Worrying new figures have revealed how THOUSANDS could be addicted to common drugs - without knowing.

An expert based in Liverpool has highlighted what could potentially be a widespread national issue.

He has urged painkiller users to be particularly aware of the risk of addiction.

Dr Yasir Abbasi, clinical director for addiction services at the Mersey Care NHS Trust, said he had seen prescriptions of addictive medicines are on the rise.

Public Health England (PHE) figures suggest one in every 11 patients has been prescribed a potentially addictive drug in the past year alone.

A government probe has now been launched to tackle the issue.

Prescription drugs
Prescription drugs

It will look not only at painkillers, but also at antidepressant use - which has more than doubled in the last decade.

The Public Health England review will look in depth at the evidence about the harm and scale of addiction, with findings to be published in early 2019.

Steve Brine, Conservative public health minister, said: “We know this is a huge problem in other countries like the United States - and we must absolutely make sure it doesn’t become one here.”

Rosanna O’Connor, director of drugs, alcohol and tobacco at PHE, said: “It is of real concern that so many people find themselves dependent on or suffering withdrawal symptoms from prescribed medicines. Many will have sought help for a health problem only to find later on they have a further obstacle to overcome.”

Video Loading

Dr Abbasi, a consultant psychiatrist, told the Liverpool ECHO : “There are about 24 million prescription painkillers issued in a year in England - that in itself raises concern.

“Anecdotally, we are seeing a rising number of referrals related to prescription drug addiction, to drugs like co-codamol, tramadol and pregabalin.

“Lots of people are not aware some can lead to physical dependency if used for a long-time, and a vast majority of people don’t even realise they are addicted.

“Many are prescribed them for chronic problems. It becomes concerning if people are using more than what they are prescribed or using it for other reasons.

“We are not demonising this medication - they have a very important role to play - but lots of them have an addictive potential.

“So there needs to be more awareness. The need should be reviewed on a regular basis - we are not sure that happens.”

Dr Abbasi said some users also started looking for other drugs online, in shops or even moved onto hard drugs when their prescriptions ran out or failed to satisfy them.

He said one patient of his had been buying up to 80 co-codamol tablets over the counter on top of their prescription.

He also said many hooked users did not meet the “stereotypical image” of drug addicts.

There has been a massive rise in reported drug driving offences in recent years.

Since 2015, the number of individuals charged has expanded by 140 per cent - leaving many with bans, fines and even jail sentences.

The figures, which rose after a Confused.com Freedom of Information request, have risen after new driving limits for a string of doctor prescribed medications were presented.

Confused.com motoring expert Matt Lloyd says: “New drug driving laws introduced early last year seem to be having an impact, with the number of drug driving arrests increasing by 140%.

“This means more motorists who are found to have broken the law are being caught, which in turn will help to make our roads a safer place.

“There is however, another area for concern.”

Among those concerns is that motorists in Birmingham are unaware that innocuous remedies could see them banned from driving.

Many drugs could potentially cause problems because they induce drowsiness - and over-the-counter prescription remedies, including codeine, for example, could see you banned.

So, what are the rules on legal drugs while driving?

What does the law say?

Most drugs are perfectly safe in themselves and it is perfectly legal to drive in most circumstances.

It only becomes a problem if the standard of driving is poor.

The gov.uk website says: “It’s illegal in England and Wales to drive with legal drugs in your body if it impairs your driving.

“It’s an offence to drive if you have over the specified limits of certain drugs in your blood and you haven’t been prescribed them.”

What drugs are most likely to cause problems?

Talk to your doctor about whether you should drive if you’ve been prescribed any of the following drugs:

  • amphetamine, eg dexamphetamine or selegiline
  • clonazepam
  • diazepam
  • flunitrazepam
  • lorazepam
  • methadone
  • morphine or opiate and opioid-based drugs, eg codeine, tramadol or fentanyl
  • oxazepam
  • temazepam

I’m on one of those drugs - should I stop driving just in case?

Not necessarily.

There may be a zero tolerance approach to illegal drugs but there is a risk-based approach to prescription medicines - meaning it’s on a case-by-case basis, Chronicle Live reported.

You can drive after taking the drugs listed above if you’ve been prescribed them and followed advice on how to take them by a healthcare professional and they aren’t causing you to be unfit to drive even if you’re below the specified limits.

What are the limits?

There are specified limits for each.

(Note: There is a chart on 120517drugs which gives the limits for each drug in microgrammes per litre of blood).

How can I tell how much of the drug to take?

The health service is unhelpful.

“The government is unable to provide any guidance on what amounts of dosage would equate to being over the specified limits,” says gov.uk.

“There are too many variables, such as physical characteristics, where each person will metabolise the drug at different rates. Eating or drinking will also have an effect on the blood concentration.”

What about the grey area of taking a high dosage but still feeling competent enough to drive?

The RAC quotes Robert Goodwill, Road Safety Minister, on this.

He said: “If you are taking your medicine as directed and your driving is not impaired, then you are not breaking the law and there is no need to worry.

“We advise anyone who is unsure about the effects of their medication or how the new legislation may affect them, to seek the advice of their doctor or pharmacist.

“There will also be a medical defence if a driver has been taking medication as directed and is found to be over the limit, but not impaired.”

Drivers who are taking prescribed medication at high doses are advised to carry evidence with them, such as prescriptions slips, when driving in order to minimise any inconvenience should they be asked to take a test by the police.

What happens if the police pull me over?

The RAC say: “If the police pull you over on suspicion of drug-driving, they may ask you to take a ‘field impairment assessment’.

“This includes various tasks designed to test alertness and coordination.

“Examples include walking in a straight-line, standing on one leg, tilting your head back and counting to 30, and touching your finger to your nose with your eyes closed.”

Police may also use roadside tests to check for cannabis and cocaine.

If when they pull you over they think you’re unfit to drive because of taking drugs, you’ll be arrested and will have to take a blood or urine test at a police station.”

What will I get?

Video Loading

The penalties for drug-driving are severe.

A conviction will result in a minimum one-year driving ban, an unlimited fine, up to six months in prison and a criminal record.

Causing a death by dangerous driving while under the influence of drugs can result in a 14-year prison term.