BBC Horizon - Addicted to Painkillers (2020) 1080p HDTV x265 AAC MVGroup

The opioid epidemic has devastated America. But what is the situation here? A new report from Public Health England raises serious concerns about Britain's own relationship with painkillers. Dr Michael Mosley embarks on an immersive journey to Britain’s opioid frontline and meets patients struggling with addiction and GPs fighting a constant battle to help those suffering from chronic pain. He also uncovers worrying evidence of people abusing over-the-counter opioids and discovers how easy it is to buy strong opioids online.

Nearly six million people in England and Wales were prescribed an opioid last year. Michael wants to uncover how and why we are consuming twice the amount of opioids as 20 years ago, especially when the scientific evidence he encounters disturbingly suggests that for the majority of people taking them for chronic pain, these drugs mostly don’t even work. Though a vital tool in our doctors’ armoury to combat acute pain and in cancer and end-of-life care, the Public Health England report revealed that more than half a million people have been on opioids for more than three years.