Greater Manchester faces new drugs crisis as patients living in agony wait years for surgery, doctors warn

manchestereveningnews.co.uk:

Greater Manchester's over-stretched health service is set to be hit by a wave of patients battling a new addiction to opioids, doctors have warned.

Medics say there will likely be a worrying rise in people getting hooked on painkillers as they wait for vital operations delayed due to the pandemic, and are unable to control the inevitable side effects of the strong doses needed to cope.

Those fighting conditions worry painkillers will leave potentially thousands across the country with ‘addictions they never expected’, even though they’re taking the medications as advised by their GPs.

Faced with already-stretched NHS support, some fear addictions will lead to using 'substances or alcohol’, if they are not getting enough formal help to reduce their medication when their surgery eventually happens. READ MORE: Family devastated as they miss Ryanair flight for £1,500 holiday after being left stranded in Manchester Airport queues However, who should deal with the ticking time bomb is up for debate.