'Sleepwalking into addiction': The hidden opioid crisis of the pandemic as patients forced to wait years for surgery
manchestereveningnews.co.uk'Zombified’ on strong painkillers, ‘frightened’ to up their dose, but left with ‘no other option’ as they are kept awake by excruciating pain.
Thousands of people have seen their life-changing surgeries stall as the pandemic washed across the country. Now, patients and doctors are grappling with fears that the nation could be ‘sleepwalking into addiction’, as those suffering serious injuries wait years for procedures - with only heavy doses of painkillers able to give them enough relief to get through the day. READ MORE: In Greater Manchester, some felt their final hopes of eventually getting their treatment evaporate at the start of this month.
Health leaders announced that most surgeries would be cancelled as the Omicron wave has grounded swathes of the workforce testing positive or having to isolate.
Patients living with painful conditions have told the Manchester Evening News that agonising delays have come at a cost. They are forced to depend on strong painkillers, including addictive opiates such as morphine and codeine, and opioids like tramadol and fentanyl, for even longer.
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