Summary
An investigation into the role of big pharma in the international opioid crisis, from BBC Radio 4, touches upon questions about the ethics and suitability of pain management embedded semi-routinely in care for persons with dementia:
Reference
Opioids: A Painful Prescription? [Online]: BBC Radio Four’s “File on Four” programme, May 12th 2019 [and] May 14th 2019.
Expert opinion on the uncertainties:
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Reference
Erdal, A. Ballard, C. [and] Vahia, IV. [et al] (2019). Analgesic treatments in people with dementia – how safe are they? A systematic review. Expert Opinion on Drug Safety. April 30th 2019: 1-12. [Epub ahead of print].
Possibly of related background interest:
Reference
University of East Anglia Medicines Optimisation Group (2019). Toolkit for tackling chronic opioid use in non-cancer pain. [Online]: University of East Anglia; Medicines Optimisation Group, May 2019.
Concerning an Office for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) report:
Reference
Pym, H. (2019). Opioid addiction numbers to be revealed for the first time. London: BBC Health News / BBC Reality Check, July 30th 2019.
Painkillers Don’t Exist
Concerning the “painkillers don’t exist” public awareness campaign (deployed initially in Sunderland) aiming to reduce reliance on prescription painkillers:
Reference
Triggle, N. (2020). Ban term ‘painkiller’ to end obsession with drugs. London: BBC Health News, February 6th 2020.