Significant rise in use of pain medication in Ireland
The study, carried out by the Royal College of Surgeons, found that Irish people use more pain medication than patients in England.
It found the prescribing of pain medications in Ireland rose significantly between 2014 and 2022.
The use of opioids, including medicines like Codeine and Oxycodone, increased by about 25% over the period and prescriptions for paracetamol rose by 50%.
The study focused on patients in Ireland with a medical card, representing about 1.3 million people– and on data from all GP practices in England.
It found that for every 1,000 patients in 2022, over 1,200 prescriptions for opioids were issued.
In contrast, England experienced declining use across most classes of pain medications during this time.
Researchers say long waiting lists for orthopaedic surgery in Ireland, such as hip and knee replacements, could be to blame for the surge in prescriptions
They also say the study raised questions about healthcare access and the availability of non-drug options to manage pain
The study says that in England there is greater access to healthcare services, including pain clinics and more non-drug options such as physical therapy through the NHS.
They say there are not as many of these services Ireland could be contributing to a greater reliance on medication.
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The Irish Sun
5 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Rise of ‘faux-zempic' fake weight loss drugs being imported into UK black market & sold on social media…how to spot dupe
Celeb Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace tells Sun Club readers she 'thought she was going to die' and even lost her eyesight after unknowingly taking fake weight-loss jabs FAKE JAB HELL Rise of 'faux-zempic' fake weight loss drugs being imported into UK black market & sold on social media…how to spot dupe WEIGHT-LOSS drugs can be a silver bullet for some trying to shed the pounds after years of failure with fad diets and exercise routines. But dodgy vendors selling potentially deadly fake jabs laced with everything from rat poison to cement have appeared on the black market - with murky labs in foreign countries fuelling the supply, experts have told The Sun. 16 Bags of fake Ozempic pens seized in a UK crackdown Credit: MHRA 16 Michelle Sword fell into a coma after using fake fat jabs - which turned out to be insulin Credit: Supplied 16 Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace thought she'd bagged herself a bargain after buying fat jabs through a WhatsApp group - but says she 'nearly died' Credit: aisleyne1/Instagram 16 Wegovy and Mounjaro are the licensed weight loss jabs in the UK Credit: Getty Celeb endorsements and gushing influencers have encouraged many people who can't get fat jabs prescribed by the NHS to look for Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro elsewhere. And some Brits have found out the hard way about the perils of gambling with fake drugs - which can contain a cocktail of poison, including cement and arsenic. One of those was Celeb Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace, who told The Sun she "thought she was going to die" and even lost her eyesight after unknowingly taking fake weight-loss jabs. She was left bedridden for three days, constantly vomiting and was unable to even walk to her en-suite toilet after injecting what she dubbed a "syringe of horror". Her crystal clear message to anyone thinking about buying weight-loss jabs from an unofficial source is: "Don't." So-called "skinny jabs" require a prescription from a qualified medic - and must be obtained from registered pharmacies. Ozempic is only licensed as a type 2 diabetes treatment in the UK, unlike in America, meaning the NHS cannot prescribe it for weight loss. Private doctors may be willing to prescribe it "off-label" for weight loss - but that exposes people to a higher risk of being duped, experts say. Meanwhile, Wegovy and Mounjaro can be prescribed on the NHS for weight loss - and may also be bought privately. Crucially, private purchases also need a prescription from a qualified medic - and online platforms are required to conduct a face-to-face or video consultation before dispensing the drugs. Towie star Saffron Lempriere reveals how she lost 12 pounds in 4 weeks - without fat jabs But in reality, jabs can be bought without prescriptions - widely available from social media or unlicensed websites posing as pharmacies flogging the stuff for less than half price at around £80. 'Dicing with death' Health chiefs warned last year that deadly fakes had reached the UK market - and broken into the legitimate supply chain. So far, over 100 deaths have been linked to weight loss drugs in the UK, according to recent data, and it's unclear if any deaths have been linked to fake jabs. But a leading GP who spoke to the BBC warned that those buying weight loss drugs online are "dicing with death". Counterfeits are often linked to organised crime groups, according to Anne Devaud, the head of product security at Novo Nordisk - the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy. Anne told The Sun: "There are lots of sellers in Turkey using UK or French phone numbers to hide where the supply is really coming from. "The best way for these criminals to flog their wares is through social media - because that's where Brits naturally turn," she added. I can't believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me Michelle Sword Groups in China are one of the primary sources for the fakes, Anne said, but the company has also identified counterfeit manufacturing in places like Turkey and Brazil. Anne said: "There are different sources of illicit manufacturing. "Some may order semaglutide from, for example, a Chinese supplier and then do their own stuff. "But another group might simply put starch or water inside - because the purpose is solely to make money." Real Ozempic and Wegovy jabs contain the active ingredient semaglutide, while Mounjaro uses a compound of the same chemical with another called tirzepatide. But fake pens can contain dangerously high doses of semaglutide, or different drugs entirely, like insulin, which can make people seriously sick if taken unnecessarily. Some online platforms also sell real products which have been shipped from overseas, where the same rigorous standards don't apply. Experts say that the rise of counterfeit drugs is a consequence of the supply struggling to keep up with demand - and imposter jabs present a range of perils. 16 Mum-of-two Michelle Sword managed to get hold of the fake jabs without any medical checks, and was told it could be delivered straight away Credit: David Hartley 16 Michelle said, 'I can't believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me' Credit: Supplied 16 An original Ozempic pen, top, vs a counterfeit, bottom Credit: PA 16 Counterfeit semaglutide and Ozempic jabs seized in the US Credit: CNBC Toby Nicol, CEO at CheqUp, told The Sun: "The surge in popularity of weight loss injections has unfortunately created a lucrative opportunity for counterfeiters. "Fake weight loss drugs often originate from unregulated manufacturing operations, where oversight is minimal and quality control can be nonexistent - they are only interested in cash, not care. "These counterfeit products frequently enter the market through unauthorised online pharmacies or social media marketplaces that bypass regulation and rules. If it seems too good to be true, it probably is Toby Nicol "They come in one of two forms - either in pens which mimic those offered genuinely for Mounjaro and Wegovy or sold simply as some powder in a vial to which people add water. "This latter type is very common on TikTok where patients are encouraged to buy something, which could be chalk and inject it into themselves. "Anything which costs less than about £80 to £100 per month is probably fake." Toby warned: "If it seems too good to be true, it probably is." Rat poison, cement and arsenic Kevin Joshua, a weight-loss clinician, explained how the fakes sometimes contain insulin instead of semaglutide - which can lead to "critically low blood sugar, coma, or death". People with diabetes take insulin to top up their natural levels, so that they are able to break down sugar properly. Taking too much insulin or injecting when you don't need it can lead to disorientation, seizures or even death. He added: "Chemical analysis of fake weight loss injections has also identified contaminants like rat poison, arsenic, cement, mercury, bacteria or viruses that may result in sepsis, infection, or organ failure." Dr Tim Mackay, a professor at the University of California, San Diego, who studies counterfeit medications, told us that some criminal enterprises get their hands on "research-grade" drugs, not meant for human consumption, and pass it off as the real thing. Other fakes will contain impure semaglutide, dangerously high doses or other drugs entirely, he said. These counterfeit products frequently enter the market through unauthorised online pharmacies or social media marketplaces that bypass regulation and rules Toby Nicol Jason Murphy, Head of Pharmacy and weight loss injection expert at Chemist4U, said: "It really depends on what's in them. "And that's part of the problem, you just don't know. Some might have no active ingredients at all so they just don't work. "Others might contain the wrong dose or harmful substances that can cause stomach issues, blood pressure problems or worse. "There's also a real risk when it comes to sterility. "If the product hasn't been made in clean conditions, there's a chance it could be contaminated, which can lead to infections or serious health complications. "Because these fake drugs haven't gone through proper safety checks, every dose is a gamble." 'I came so close to death' Big Brother star Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace says she almost died and lost her eyesight after taking fake Ozempic last year. She tells The Sun that last year was "really tough" after she lost two very important people and her way of dealing with the pain was to "eat her feelings" - meaning she piled on almost two stone. When a friend suggested she tried Ozempic, Aisleyne rushed into it without considering the dangers, because she was in "such a bad place". She says: "I got added to a WhatsApp group where girls talk about what they want to have done - lip fillers and things - and someone on there was offering Ozempic. 16 Aisleyne Horgan Wallace says she 'nearly died' after injecting fake fat jabs Credit: Olivia West 16 Texts between Aisleyne and the person who organised her supply, about another friend who fell sick after using the injections Credit: supplied 16 Aisleyne's drugs came in an unbranded syringe Credit: supplied How to spot a fake MOST fakes are not completely identical to the authentic products, and there are some signs you can look out. According to Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy, these are the giveaways... Dodgy packaging : Fake jabs will often come in boxes and packaging of inferior quality. The graphics are more likely to look cheap or misaligned. : Fake jabs will often come in boxes and packaging of inferior quality. The graphics are more likely to look cheap or misaligned. Spelling errors : Text on the counterfeits are much more likely to contain spelling mistakes. : Text on the counterfeits are much more likely to contain spelling mistakes. Dose selector: The manufacturer says that some fakes have dose selectors which can be pulled out when dialled to a select dose. The selectors on the genuine product are fixed in place. The manufacturer says that some fakes have dose selectors which can be pulled out when dialled to a select dose. The selectors on the genuine product are fixed in place. Unbranded: Some counterfeits are completely unbranded, like the plain syringe Aisleyne received. The genuine products will always be branded with the company name and logo. However, it's important remember that some counterfeits will not bear any of those signs. The only way to guarantee a genuine product is to "obtain appropriate medicine on prescription through legitimate sources", Novo Nordisk advises. "With the first month's supply I felt fine, even energetic, and I could see that I was losing a bit of weight. "But then I took the second month's - and I came so close to death. I wish I never, ever took the first month's supply or even heard about this drug. "For three days I was in bed, literally comatose. I'd wake up, roll over and vomit into a bag. There were bags of vomit all around me. "I couldn't even walk the two steps to the en-suite toilet, I had to crawl and drag myself. "After a day I didn't need to go to the toilet because I wasn't eating or drinking - I couldn't even sip anything. "On day two, I opened my eyes and I couldn't see anything out of one of my eyes." The TV star to this day does not know what was in the jabs - but insists: "It was a syringe of horrors, that's all I know. The chemicals must have been wrong." 16 Wegovy is the UK version of Ozempic licensed for weight loss in the UK Credit: PA 16 Amy Schumer is one of the many high-profile celebs to admit she has used weight loss drugs 16 Gemma Collins also revealed she has been using fat jabs Credit: Many other women have got in touch with Aisleyne with similar accounts, proving the problem is widespread. Michelle Sword, 47, is another who nearly died after injecting herself with a fake Ozempic jab. She fell into a coma after administering the medicine, which turned out to be insulin. Michele said: "It was a lot harder to get hold of Ozempic, so I didn't go down the conventional way of doing it. "The beauty companies and the online aesthetic companies all seemed to have it." The mum-of-two managed to get hold of some without any medical checks, and was told it could be delivered straight away. But soon after injecting, she collapsed and began suffering seizures - and tests showed her blood sugar levels had plummeted and sent her into a diabetic coma. Michelle said: "I can't believe that I allowed my insecurities to almost kill me." Fat jab crisis In December 2024, the Royal Pharmaceutical Society warned that social media was fuelling such an appetite for weight-loss jabs that the supply simply couldn't keep up. It even likened the situation to the toilet paper shortages during the Covid pandemic. To keep up with demand, some NHS pharmacies could soon be given powers to prescribe the injections - cutting out the need for patients to see the GP. Addressing the unlicensed supply chain, it said: "These unregulated websites often specifically target those medicines that are in shortage. "These illegal sites come with the risk that patients may be accessing medicines that are outside of a rigorous, quality-controlled supply chain and may be unauthorised and/or falsified." Similarly, the National Pharmacy Association warned there could be a possible "explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online". NPA chairman Nick Kaye said last year: 'Pharmacists remain deeply concerned that the current medicine shortages crisis could lead to an explosion in the unlicensed sale of medication online. 'Stocks of Ozempic are very depleted in community pharmacy in the UK and it is important that these remain prioritised for those in the most clinical need. 'Given the precarious state of supply of this and other vital medication, there is a much greater risk of people looking to order in supplies from disreputable online vendors." 16 Even if the product is branded as Ozempic it can be a fake - like this suspected counterfeit Credit: Reuters 16 The drugs can be injected into the skin of your stomach, thigh or arm Cracking down Novo Nordisk is the pharmaceutical company which manufactures Ozempic and Wegovy. Anne, head of product security, told The Sun that pharma companies are collaborating with each other and law enforcement agencies to counter the rise of counterfeit products. She said: "It's a long run, because we are fighting against organized crime. But I'm confident because now we have governance, we are sharing with other pharma companies and authorities. "The best ways to mitigate against the risks are two things: First is to litigate as much as possible and work with prosecutor in order to disrupt [the supply]. "The second is to continue to develop awareness - because everybody has a responsibility. "If patients are more vigilant, ordering less online, if we are collaborating with authorities, if also authorities are reinforcing regulation to avoid any illicit compounding to enter in the country, I'm quite confident that with this combined effort we may really make a difference, so there is no question mark for us. We are on it." Novo Nordisk urges anyone who believes they have hold of a fake pen to not use it. They are encouraged to report it to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency - the body tasked with protecting the UK's drug supply. The MHRA said it has been seizing counterfeit Ozempic pens since 2023. Andy Morling, its deputy director of criminal enforcement, told CNBC last year: "We saw that the demand increased and quite often as it happens in these situations, criminals try and fill a gap where the supply and demand aren't balanced for a particular product, and we started seeing real counterfeit versions of the Ozempic product on the market."
Irish Independent
a day ago
- Irish Independent
David Quinn: Cavan mother's tragic case exposes the absurdity of Switzerland's assisted suicide regime
Megan Royal has performed a great service by telling the Irish public about the circumstances of the death of her mother, Maureen Slough. Maureen died in an assisted suicide clinic in Switzerland last month, aged just 58. She was not terminally ill. She had decided her life was no longer worth living and she located a clinic in Switzerland that was willing to facilitate her wish.
Agriland
a day ago
- Agriland
Poultry farmers seek more support for when disease strikes
Farmers want "poultry disease compensation scheme" funding in Budget 2026. The Irish Farmers' Association (IFA) has outlined that a scheme is needed for table egg layers and broiler breeders in particular, as the current scheme "does not fully reimburse losses or even the value of the stock at the time the loss is incurred". "The current funding mechanism does not adequately support the needs of farming families or the poultry sector," according to the IFA. "The Irish poultry industry consistently delivers improvements in biosecurity and disease prevention; however, in the rare case when support is required, it falls drastically short." The IFA poultry committee, in conjunction with Poultry Ireland, is asking the government to allocate additional funding in Budget 2026 to the poultry sector for specific diseases. The IFA is also seeking the establishment of an 'island culling team' to ensure the sector can "quickly respond to contain diseases should there be an outbreak". Salmonella is one of the diseases of concern for poultry farmers, especially with its public health significance. The IFA said that recently, there have been some detections of salmonella within the poultry sector. "These cases were identified at stages where there was no risk to human health, highlighting the effectiveness of on-farm controls, sampling regimes and official testing structures," the IFA said. "However, these incidents have underscored the considerable risks poultry farmers carry and the absence of adequate support mechanisms if a farm is affected." The IFA is seeking support from the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine (DAFM) on a "national disease support structure" for the sector. Salmonella is an "ubiquitous bacterium" with many serotypes, which are typically found in human and animal digestive tracts, a spokesperson for DAFM explained. "There are a large variety of salmonella serotypes with some of them more common in poultry than others," DAFM said. "All poultry types are susceptible to salmonella. Only a few of these salmonella serotypes are of poultry health interest, meaning that they cause disease in poultry, while not affecting humans." These are: salmonella gallinarum, salmonella pullorum and salmonella arizonae - and DAFM told Agriland that they are not present in Ireland. Poultry can carry zoonotic salmonella serotypes, including salmonella enteritidis and salmonella typhimurium. These zoonotic salmonella serovars have the potential to cause human illness - but not illness in poultry. "There is a low incidence of zoonotic salmonella serotypes in commercial poultry flocks in Ireland, in large part due to biosecurity measures and on-farm controls taken," DAFM said. Under EU regulations, table egg layers (hens), broilers, broiler breeders, fattening turkeys, and turkey breeder flocks are tested at defined intervals for public health significant serotypes, according to the department. "This is done by taking boot swabs and in some cases dust swabs to detect salmonella in the poultry environment," a DAFM spokesperson said. "The monitoring is carried out under the Salmonella National Control Plan. Flocks considered to be backyard, i.e. on non-intensive holdings, are not included in the plan." The Salmonella National Control Plan was established in 2012., with the aim of reducing or controling the prevalence of salmonella in a number of regulated serovars under the EU zoonoses regulations. The plan operates on an ongoing basis and includes regular sampling by both department staff and farmers at multiple points during the life stages of the broiler flocks, DAFM explained. There are multiple potential routes of entry of salmonella into a poultry flock - but these are controlled by good standards of biosecurity. And credit is due to Ireland's poultry keepers: there is an overall low incidence of salmonella recorded in Irish flocks. Salmonella vaccination in poultry is not carried out routinely in Ireland, partly due to this low incidence of salmonella, according to the DAFM spokesperson. This low incidence, alongside the strict and good biosecurity measures in place and indirect benefits from heat treatment of poultry feed, are proven to be important measures in the control of salmonella in Ireland. The department allocates funding annually for the compensation of zoonotic salmonella outbreaks in poultry flocks, on a ex-gratia basis. The scheme applies only to suspected or confirmed outbreaks of salmonella enteritidis and typhimurium, the DAFM spokesperson said. All broiler breeder and turkey breeder farms and table egg laying farms infected with these are subject to compulsory slaughter. Payment is only made following confirmation by a department veterinarian that all relevant biosecurity measures have been adhered to. Salmonella species can cause illness called salmonellosis in humans, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) explained. In 2023, salmonellosis was the fourth most commonly reported foodborne infection in humans in Ireland, according to FSAI data, and the second most commonly reported overall in the EU. Salmonella enterica is a key cause of foodborne illness, the FSAI told Agriland. "Out of its six sub-species, enterica is the most relevant to human health and includes over 2,400 serotypes," the FSAI explained. "In recent years, the majority of reported human cases of salmonellosis in Ireland have been attributed to its serotypes salmonella typhimurium and salmonella enteritidis." People infected with salmonella typically develop symptoms between 12 and 36 hours after infection, but this can range between six and 72 hours. The FSAI advises that the most common symptom is diarrhoea, which can sometimes be bloody. Other symptoms may include fever, headache, and abdominal cramps. The illness usually lasts four to seven days. "While most people recover without treatment, diarrhoea can occasionally be severe enough to require hospital admission. "The elderly, infants, and those with impaired immune systems are more likely to develop severe illness," the FSAI said. The authority notes that many foods have been identified as potential sources of transmission for salmonella to humans. This includes foods of animal origin, as well as non-animal foods that may be susceptible to faecal contamination. Those of particular importance include undercooked poultry meat (chicken, turkey, duck, and goose) and undercooked pork meat, the FSAI warned. The authority recently confirmed a recall of a batch of turkey burgers due to the possible presence of salmonella. The implicated batch of Hogan's Farm Turkey Burgers has a use-by date of July 26, 2025, and although this date has passed, the FSAI noted that the product is suitable for home freezing. As a result, the authority is advising consumers to check their freezers for the affected batch and not to eat the burgers. "There have also been salmonellosis outbreaks linked to contaminated eggs and egg products, raw (unpasteurised) milk, fruit, vegetables, nuts and seeds, and processed foods (e.g., bakery products, sweets, and chocolate)," the FSAI told Agriland. "Consumption of undercooked duck eggs or dishes containing raw or lightly cooked duck eggs have been linked to outbreaks of salmonellosis in Ireland in recent years." To reduce the risk of exposure to salmonella and the development of salmonellosis, consumers should always cook food thoroughly. Good hygiene must also be practised, along with avoiding cross-contamination. Food should also be stored correctly. The FSAI notes that eggs are stored at ambient temperature in retail shops, but it is recommended that they are refrigerated by consumers at home. According to the FSAI, there has been recent evidence to suggest that imported poultry products may present a higher risk of salmonella contamination compared to domesticallyproduced Irish poultry. "This risk may vary depending on the country of origin for the poultry, the production standards they use, and the salmonella control measures they have in place," the FSAI explained. In 2022, the FSAI undertook a National Microbiological Survey assessing the microbiological quality of chilled and frozen coated poultry meat preparations and poultry meat products intended to be consumed cooked. Salmonella infantis was detected in 1.3% of the samples surveyed. Four of the contaminated products originated from Poland (one) and Ukraine (three), while the country of origin for the fifth product could not be determined.
