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NICE Issues New Guidelines for Safer Use of Prescription Drugs
Most people think of illegal drugs such as cocaine or heroin when they hear the words ‘drug addiction’. They assume that those affected by this illness have been taking illegal substances for recreational purposes. Some believe that these drug addicts are unemployed and homeless. It might never enter their head that drug addiction also refers to those who have become dependent on prescription medication prescribed by their GP.
Controlled drugs are prescribed for a number of reasons, including for chronic pain, anxiety disorder, depression, sleep disorders, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). Unfortunately, many people misuse these drugs by taking more than the prescribed dose, or by taking them more frequently than advised. Some individuals take controlled medication that has been prescribed for another person. Misuse of controlled drugs can lead to numerous problems including addiction, and the rising number of those affected has become a major cause for concern in recent times.
Safer Use
Because of the concerns regarding the use of controlled drugs, NICE (National Institute for Health and Care Excellence) has issued new guidelines for the safer use of medications including methadone, morphine, and diazepam. Changes already implemented by the NHS have been taken into account. These include the ways in which GPs, hospitals, and pharmacies manage the drugs as well as the restrictions that have been placed on how they are prescribed. The NHS has also implemented changes to procedures in relation to repeat prescriptions.
NICE Guidelines
The new guidelines issued by NICE are intended to help healthcare professionals when it comes to treatment with controlled drugs. The guidelines will also be useful for those working in social care, the armed forces, the police, and prisons. The guidelines are as follows:
- Those who are prescribing controlled drugs to patients should also provide advice on safe storage and disposal of the drugs. This could include locking the medication in cupboards or storage boxes if medication could become accessible to other people. It is also necessary for healthcare professionals to discuss how a chosen storage method could increase the risk of a drug-related accident.
- Logs should be kept by health organisations that would include information on how controlled medications are supplied, administered, transferred, and disposed of.
- Pharmacies must inform patients if only one part of their prescription is available for collection as well as provide information about when the remainder will be available and when it should be collected.
- A patient should not be prescribed any controlled drug for more than thirty days. Healthcare professionals should prescribe sufficient amounts of the controlled drug to cover the needs of the patient for up to thirty days only. If it is necessary to prescribe more of the drug, then this should be fully documented in the patient’s record.
Extra Care
As medications such as methadone and morphine can cause serious harm if not managed correctly, they tend to be very strictly regulated. According to the chair of the guideline development group, Dr Tessa Lewis, “A great deal of work has been done recently to help ensure the safe use and management of controlled drugs at a local and national level. However, ongoing activity and vigilance is required to sustain the positive developments that have been achieved since the changes to the structure of the NHS took effect in 2012.”
She added that the guidelines produced by NICE were intended to support the changes brought in by changes to the NHS structure and to legislation. She said, “This guidance provides further clarity and good practice recommendations across most NHS settings and people’s own homes.”
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25 May 2022
This treatment centre has helped start my recovery and all the staff have been very helpful. Really enjoyed my stay here 10 weeks!
24 May 2022
Very good place to come the staff are great and the community was always so helpful
24 May 2022
Whilst Liberty House offers great value for money for those recovering from various addictions, and coming to terms with various personality disorders which may underpin these addictions, their community-based model has its cons. Budgetary restrictions place their incredible on-site staff under immense pressure. Nobody who works full-time at the centre itself is in it for the money. They work there because they care passionately about healing and recovery for their clients, but their passion and commitment is compromised by the financial model which underpins the business – and don’t forget that they are indeed a business; a private model where somebody up the chain is profiting, at the expense of its staff and paying customers. Like many residential rehabilitation centres, there are frequent repeat customers; one might assume that despite client recovery being a primary aim, the danger of relapsing is built into the business model. Let’s talk about the positives; this is mainly the staff. The core therapists believe in tough love, softened by a community-based approach, where customers are asked to share much of the workload of recovery. This puts the staff under intense pressure. They collectively have to fight for tiny increases to their working budget. Much of the equipment in the centre is broken, old, faulty and in need of replacing; don’t expect a good night’s sleep. The beds and furniture are worse than you might find in an open prison, and sometimes this is what – in my experience – many customers grumble about. But the staff make do, despite this; the remarkable chef, Gareth, has to spend his own money on equipment; sometimes he brings in his own. If he is not there, the food is crap; he, however, turns mediocre food into brilliant meals, which was one of the saving graces of my experience. All the core therapists were brilliant at their jobs, and put in the hours and dedication to the clients they serve; I owe a particular debt of gratitude to Jeanette, Jade, Brendan and John Port. I cannot praise the support staff enough; an incredible team, from top to bottom; from the cleaners and builders, to management. Their service was exemplary, in very difficult circumstances. Some of their house rules are almost impossible for their customers to understand and decode, so there’s a hell of a lot of confusion for the entire community – staff and clients. Hopefully this will be redeemed by the tenure of their new manager, Sally – but her work is cut out! I wish her and her support staff all the best in their jobs, especially Gosha and Justine, but it’s wrong to name a few; this is a great team all around. Ultimately, I owe Liberty House a debt of gratitude for saving my life, and the lives of hundreds of people. The reviews on this page are bound to confirm my experience is not unique. At the least, your loved ones will come out of their treatment in a much better state of mind, body and spirit then when they arrived. Like any rehabilitation process, it’s a question of horses for courses; this follows the Alcoholics Anonymous model, which is severely in need of an update; like the bible many clients mistake it for, it was written a long time ago. Nevertheless, therapists are very well trained. In my short stay, I learnt to challenge and update many of my core beliefs. I learnt about a variety of therapeutic models, from transactional analysis, to CBT, DBT and more, which will serve me well in my future adventures on the wheels of steel. If you are a drug user, or a caring relative in desperation, I recommend Liberty House. It’s seven times cheaper than the Priory! Your loved ones will be grateful beyond measure when you leave the clinic a changed person. But I do wish whomever is profiting from this private model stops hoovering up the meagre profits, and begins to invest in the centre, beginning with pay rises, budget increases, and a massive overhaul. The centre is direly in need of entire refurbishment; otherwise it will lose staff, and lose business, in years ahead. Finally, despite the corner-cutting, it’s a happy family there. Your loved ones will come out shiny and freshly-polished, with the tools to beat their respective addictions, and a new family to support them in recovery. Thanks to all at Liberty House for changing my life – for the better, and hopefully for the rest of my life.
23 May 2022
I am so grateful for being able to come to Primrose lodge. My life is now going in the right direction. Thank you x
23 May 2022
Liberty house is a very good treatment centre for addiction. It runs on the bases of the 12 step programme but offers so much more. The addition of calming breathing techniques, meditation and yoga which are all important for calming the mind body and spirit to embrace change. Thanks
23 May 2022
My stay at Linwood house has been the the most wonderful journey I’ve been on in my life. Coming face to face with myself and learning to process my feelings has been incredibly powerful. Thank you to all who have been involved, you’ve quite literally been lifesavers. I feel like a beautiful butterfly, I’m ready to spread my wings.
22 May 2022
All the support from the staff, the amount of patience the staff have. The consistent care and routine of the medication has helped massively. The general understanding and been able to approach staff with ease the groups have helped me massively also my peers have been great.
22 May 2022
thoroughly enjoyed my time at Oasis, the centre is great the treatment program is great and the staff are great
22 May 2022
I received an excellent detox and treatment at Primrose Lodge and would certainly recommend it to anyone requiring such treatment.
22 May 2022
I cant thank the staff enough for their help and support throughout my detox and rehab. they were polite, professional and extremely friendly from day one and treated me with dignity and respect. The councilors(some being recovering addicts themselves) were very understanding and knowledgeable. The groups were informative and at times enjoyable. The accommodation is satisfactory and could do with a facelift(mattresses and bedding especially) however all your basic needs are met. The food could be healthier but the chefs are very good and do their best with the resources they have available. the option to order food from the outside on occasion would be nice. Overall i have found my time at Liberty house to be extremely positive and feel i am now equipped to manage my addiction going forwards. They have saved my life.
22 May 2022
I found the group sessions enlightening the therapy sessions were very good, overall the treatment I received has given me the confidence and the focus to continue my recovery
21 May 2022
I came in here primarily for gambling but also because I drank excessively, I thought the centre is excellent and met all my needs. The staff and therapists were excellent and I feel I have learnt a lot about my self .
21 May 2022
When I came in to sanctuary lodge I felt lost and broken, with the help of the staff here I am leaving like a rejuvenated person ready to live again. The staff have been fantastic throughout my my stay here for the housekeeping to the chefs , the support staff , and Maria the manger and Kat my therapist. Both have been a big help throughout my stay here through the good and bad times .
20 May 2022
The staff at liberty house are incredible! I have made progress far beyond my expectations. They will always go above and beyond to insure you take as much as possible fro the programme . The only downside is the standard of the accommodation, which is very substandard.
20 May 2022
Absolutely zero complaints, staff were incredible and the scope of services provided were outstanding, has given me the support and foundation for me to continue my life in sobriety.
19 May 2022
I was absolutely broken and couldn’t see a way out of my addiction when I stepped foot into Sanctuary Lodge, I’ve been in a mosh pit of emotions, I’m leaving here with a strong sense of who I am and I feel so happy and excited to start my new life in soberity. I can wholeheartedly say that every element of sanctuary lodge and my entire stay has been the single most fantastic eye opening experience. My therapist Kat, has carried me through my whole journey and supported me more than I could ever express, I absolutely love her , she has made me look at myself in a completely new light, positive feedback where I needed to hear it good and bad parts I didn’t want to see. She has helped me look at my life in a new light, And with professionalism is second to none and I cannot express my gratitude enough. Maria the manager has been professional and supportive of all my needs and always takes the time to make sure I have been happy with the treatment . Therapy team have been simply fantastic and the support team , are just the best BIG shout out to Stevie, Dorrell, grace, and Hannah and Julie they have been amazing every step of the way. The chefs need a shout out Martin and Tony are great Chefs , and make a great Sunday roast and full English. ( p.s remember to order a George !) .
19 May 2022
My stay at Liberty House was an amazing life transformation experience. I know that if would of possponned my using for little longer i would be facing death.I got so much from this place, life was throwing curve balls in the last weak and with the counselers support and the people support from the groups was there when i needed it. I feel that i have grown so much over here, as much as i didnt want to come here at the end was time to leave ands i fely very empotional to leave because this place felt like being home. Fully recommend from the bottom of my heart.
19 May 2022
The great experience and brilliant staff at Primrose Lodge have provided me with a strong foundation for the beginning of my lifelong recovery. Thank you!
19 May 2022
The place is very clean and tidy food’s getting better each day the therapy is excellent
19 May 2022
This is my second time at Sanctuary Lodge and it has been a truly beneficial experience. The therapy team are excellent and I can’t speak highly enough of my Therapist Tracey. The programme is very varied and challenging. The care support is excellent as is the catering and housekeeping services. I would highly recommend Sanctuary Lodge to anyone suffering with addiction who wishes to start their recovery.
If you successfully complete our 90-day inpatient treatment programme but experience a relapse within 30 days of leaving, we will welcome you back for complimentary 30 days of treatment.*
* Click here to learn more or contact UKAT directly for rehab availability.
If you successfully complete our 90-day inpatient treatment programme but experience a relapse within 30 days of leaving, we will welcome you back for complimentary 30 days of treatment.*
* Click here to learn more or contact UKAT directly for rehab availability.
Our clients’ health remains a priority during the COVID-19 pandemic, so our doors remain open throughout lockdown for anyone that needs support. Click here to read our safety guidelines.