Publication of recommendations and consultation analysis on prescription medicine dependence and withdrawal
- Area of Work: The ALLIANCE
- Type: News Item
- Published: 28th February 2022
The Scottish Government's Short Life Working group have released the outcomes from their work
In response to a petition submitted to the Scottish Parliament and work undertaken by Public Health England (PHE) to review dependence and withdrawal associated with some prescribed medicines, the Scottish Government established a short life working group (SLWG). The group was asked to look at the scale of the issues in Scotland. Membership of the SLWG included medical, pharmacy and nursing representation from the professions as well as professional bodies, patients with lived experience, patient organisations, SIGN, Public Health Scotland and academia.
The group sought to identify the scale, distribution and underlying contributors to prescription drug dependence and what might be done to address this in Scotland.
The review covered adults (aged 18 and over) and 5 classes of medicines:
• Benzodiazepines (mostly prescribed for anxiety and/or insomnia)
• Z-drugs (sleeping tablets with effects similar to benzodiazepines)
• Gabapentin and pregabalin (together called gabapentinoids and used to treat
epilepsy, neuropathic pain and, in the case of pregabalin, anxiety disorders)
• Opioids for chronic non-cancer pain
• Antidepressants (for depression, anxiety disorders and neuropathic pain).
The group shared draft recommendations within a consultation. An analysis of consultation responses can be found here (this link will take you away from our website).
The final agreed recommendations from the Short Life Working Group on Prescription Medicine Dependence and Withdrawal, amended following the consultation, can be found here (this link will take you away from our website).
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