bbc-data-unit / pregabalin-2019

Parents' hope at painkiller class C change

Parents' hope at painkiller class C change

In April 2019 the data unit provided analysis for a report on the decision to make Pregabalin and Gabapentin Class C substances. The decision came into effect on 1 April 2019.

We analysed the prescriptions data at OpenPrescribing.Net to find out how much the use of these drugs has increased and the areas it’s increased the most.

Get the data

• Prescriptions 2014 to 2018

Quotes and interviews

• Chris and Viv Jolly, whose daughter, Sarah, died after taking the drug, which was prescribed to relieve her back pain.
• Ian Hamilton, associate professor of addiction, University of York
• Dr Mark Hallam, clinical director of alcohol and drug service Forward Leeds

Visualisation

• Infographic: What is pregabalin?
• Line chart: Deaths related to pregabalin and gabapentin, 2007-2017
• Column chart: Prescriptions of gabapentin and pregabalin, 2014-2018
• Bar chart: Rise in gabapentin prescriptions, top 10 CCGs
• Bar chart: Rise in pregabalin prescriptions, top 10 CCGs