Survey Results

Prescribed medication

• 51% of patients were prescribed a course of treatment at the first consultation. However, others had to go back several times before they were prescribed anything.
• The majority of patients were initially taking over-the-counter medication, such as paracetamol (59%); 21% were prescribed weak opioids; 4% were prescribed strong opioids; and 13% were taking drugs that are not specified as painkillers.
• After 1 year, despite 95% of patients receiving treatment and still suffering from moderate to severe chronic pain, 63% of people are still taking the same strength of medication, 11% changed to a weaker medication and only 23% moved to a stronger medication. Only 12% of participants are being prescribed strong opioids.