Opioid analgesics will carry addiction warnings as the government warns of a dramatic increase in their use

SAlthough drugs can be very effective at combating pain, experts warned that they were not working for everyone and that GPs were constantly over-prescribing.

Some opioids are available over-the-counter, such as codeine-based badgesics that have lower strength but may also be addictive.

The number of codeine-related deaths in England and Wales has more than doubled in the last decade, while the number of deaths from codamol has also increased.

Mr. Hanbad added, "I am extremely concerned by the recent increase in the number of opioid addicts.

"Painkillers have been a breakthrough in modern medicine and are extremely important in helping people manage pain along with their busy lives – but they must be treated with caution. We know that too much painkillers can harm your health and that some opioids are highly addictive and can ruin lives, in the manner of an illegal drug. "

Professor Dame Sally Davies, Chief Medical Officer for England, said users should be aware of the risks that could change their fate.

"It is essential that anyone who is prescribed strong badgesics only take them as long as they have severe pain," she said.

"As soon as the pain begins to subside, the drugs have done their job and it is important to switch to over-the-counter medications such as paracetamol, which do not have the same risk of dependence as long-term use. "

Recent research by the Universities of Nottingham and Manchester suggest that Blackpool has the highest level of opioid prescription in the country, where 10% of the patient population are on opioids. St Helens, in Merseyside, is the second highest.

The fight against opioid addiction in the United States is well documented.

Estimates suggest that 350,000 Americans have died as a result of opioid abuse prescribed over the last two decades, that overdoses are the leading cause of death among those under 50 and that opioids make seven deaths per hour.

Norman Lamb, the former health minister, had warned earlier this year that the UK was at risk of sinking into a US opioid crisis and called for a redesign of opioid prescribing guidelines. .