The number of items prescribed for dependency-forming medicines in England has fallen slightly over the last eight years, according to figures published today by the NHS Business Service Authority.

The data revealed 67 million items were prescribed in 2023-24, equating to a one per cent decrease from 2015-16.

NHSBSA also said 7.1 million “identified” patients were prescribed dependency-forming medicines, a 13 per cent decrease from 8.1 million patients in 2015-16.

The cost of dependency-forming medicines prescribed fell by 52 per cent from £780 million in 2015-16 to £370 million in 2023-24.

Opioids were the most prescribed dependency-forming medicines, with 39 million items costing £280 million, a 34 per cent reduction since 2015-16.

Gabapenintoids and Benzodiapezines fell in cost, the former decreasing by four per cent since 2022-23 and the latter decreasing by 12 per cent.

Female patients aged 60 to 64 were most commonly prescribed the medicines. NHSBSA said that age group contained 420,000 females.

In 2023-24, 61 per cent of patients prescribed a dependency-forming item were female which NHSBSA said “has remained consistent from 2015-16.”

The highest number of patients prescribed the medication were from areas of greater deprivation. Fifty-seven per cent more patients were from those parts of the country compared to those in the least deprived areas.