Experiences of GP support from people with histories of addiction

Healthwatch Bolton undertook research on experiences of GP support among people with histories of addiction. They spoke to 25 members of Bolton Service User Forum, all of whom had experienced addiction to drugs and/or alcohol, to understand their experiences of accessing support through primary care services.

Participants felt that many GPs had a limited understanding of addiction and often relied on medication and referrals rather than providing holistic support. There were concerns about stigma, a perceived lack of knowledge about addiction and mental health, and poor continuity of care, with many people seeing different GPs at each appointment. Several participants felt that people waiting for specialist addiction services received inadequate support and suggested that services should be more closely linked to GP practices and community settings. 

A major theme was addiction to prescription medications, particularly painkillers such as codeine and tramadol. Participants reported being prescribed large quantities of medication despite disclosing concerns about dependency and felt there was insufficient support to safely reduce or stop their use. They also highlighted poor coordination between different parts of the health system, which they believed could contribute to ongoing problems with prescription drug addiction. 

Healthwatch Bolton concluded that people in recovery often found little understanding of addiction within GP services and felt unsupported while waiting for specialist treatment. The report recommended improved training and clinical support for GPs on addiction issues, stronger prescribing protocols for potentially addictive medications, and more accessible community-based addiction services that reduce stigma and provide earlier specialist support.