England Stats

PHE’s analysis shows that, in 2017 to 2018, 11.5 million adults in England (26% of the adult population) received, and had dispensed, one or more prescriptions.

• antidepressants 7.3 million people (17% of the adult population)
• opioid pain medicines 5.6 million (13%)
• gabapentinoids 1.5 million (3%)
• benzodiazepines 1.4 million (3%)
• z-drugs 1.0 million (2%)

Between 2015 to 2016 and 2017 to 2018 the rate of prescribing for antidepressants increased from 15.8% of the adult population to 16.6% and for gabapentinoids from 2.9% to 3.3%.

Rates of prescribing were higher for women (1.5 times those of men), and the rates generally increased with age.

The research by the HSIC (Health and Social Care Information Centre) shows that nearly half of the population regularly takes prescription drugs, based on figures which exclude contraceptive and stop-smoking products.

• 50% of women regularly took prescription drugs, of which nearly a quarter had 3 or more prescribed
• 43% of men, of which over a third have 3 or more prescribed
• An average of 18.7 prescriptions per person were given out in England in 2013
• The cost to the NHS was over £15bn-a-year, although research suggests that one third of patients do not take their medicine as directed, wasting budgets at a time when they are extremely tight

The most frequently prescribed products also provide an indication of the state of the nation’s health:

• 30% of prescriptions were associated with cardiovascular disease – 65 million prescriptions for high blood pressure, heart failure or cholesterol