Stuck on painkillers, but we’re not addicts

With no other treatments available, many patients with chronic conditions are forced to rely on painkillers for years, writes Jill Wallis. Your article ( Lack of support for painkiller addicts ‘hiding epidemic’, 2 November) says half a million people in England have been taking opiate medication for more than three years. There seems to be an assumption that most people are prescribed painkillers for short-lived conditions but cannot stop taking them. I suggest another reason. After