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Prescribed Addiction

John Waite investigates the 'scandal' that has left up to 1.5 million people addicted to drugs prescribed to them by their GPs, with little support to withdraw.

Prescribed Addiction: John Waite investigates the "scandal" that has left up to 1.5 million people addicted to drugs prescribed to them by their GPs. Experts in the field tell us that addicts to benzodiazepine tranquillizers, the most popular of which are diazepam and temazepam, far outnumber those addicted to illegal drugs. There's evidence that some family doctors are ignoring guidleines by prescribing the drugs for much longer than is recommended, while successive Governments are accused of turning a blind eye to the problem and offering little by way of treatment to the victims who want to withdraw.

Producer: Kathryn Takatsuki.

Available now

27 minutes

Last on

Sun 31 Jul 2011 21:00

Broadcasts

  • Wed 27 Jul 2011 12:30
  • Sun 31 Jul 2011 21:00