Minister Bruins wants to curb the use of powerful and addictive painkillers Now



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Minister Bruno Bruins (Medical Care) wants to reduce the increasing use of heavy painkillers such as oxycodone and fentanyl. Medications (opioids) are effective, but often also addictive. He commissioned a group of doctors, pharmacists and other experts to develop measures.

Bruins is worried about the health risks. He is therefore eager to provide better information to those who prescribe heavy painkillers and how users can use them responsibly. The number of users has increased explosively in ten years.

In 2008, there were 93,000 users of oxycodone, against 485,000 in 2018. The number of people who took fentanyl increased from 65,000 to 111,000 during this period. Many more patients have also started taking morphine and the associated pauster of buprenorphine

The fact that the number of users is increasing rapidly is due, among other things, to the aging of the population and to the fact that the population is growing rapidly. use of repeated prescriptions. Doctors would also prescribe medications too easily without considering side effects.

Bruins: "We must be vigilant"

The minister wants to try to curb a further increase in problematic use. There is problematic use during prolonged and unaccompanied use.

According to Bruins, reducing use without proper support is not easy. In the worst case, long-term use leads to intoxication that is resulting in more and more people admitted to hospital in recent years.

"According to the experts, there is currently no social problem, but if we are not vigilant and the problematic use of heavy painkillers is not slowed down."

"Opioids, especially oxycodone, are at high risk of addiction if used for a long time, "Bruins continues. It refers to the United States, where about 2.5 million people are dependent on these drugs.

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