A new study from the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland has found a significant increase in the prescribing of pain medications in Ireland over the past decade, with usage rates now surpassing those in England. The research, published in the British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, examined prescribing data from 2014 to 2022 for patients covered by Ireland’s General Medical Services (GMS) scheme and compared it with data from all general practices in England.
The findings reveal that opioid prescriptions in Ireland rose by approximately 25%, while paracetamol prescriptions increased by 50%. Codeine and stronger opioids such as tapentadol and oxycodone showed even greater percentage increases. In contrast, most pain medication use in England declined during the same period. By 2022, Ireland’s prescribing rates were twice as high for opioids, four times higher for anti-inflammatories, and nearly five times higher for paracetamol compared with England.
Researchers attribute some of the disparity to demographic differences, as the GMS scheme covers a higher proportion of older adults. However, they also highlight that England’s healthcare system offers broader access to pain clinics and non-drug interventions such as physical therapy, which may reduce reliance on medication. In Ireland, limited access to such services, particularly for medical card holders, may be driving higher prescription rates.
Lead author Dr Molly Mattsson and senior author Professor Frank Moriarty of the RCSI School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences emphasised the importance of ensuring access to safe, evidence-based alternatives to medication, as well as improving healthcare infrastructure to address pain without over-reliance on drugs.
The study was conducted in collaboration with the Health Service Executive (HSE) Quality and Patient Safety Directorate, University of Oxford, University College Cork, and University College Dublin, with funding from the Health Research Board.
Source: Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland
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