GPs are to be urged to stop writing repeat prescriptions for people for have become dependent on common drugs such as antidepressents as figures show 8.4million people in England were prescribed the pills last year. Painkillers and sleeping pills are also on the list to be targeted with doctors urged to send people to art and gardening classes instead.
Patients being weaned off the drugs will be offered support groups and clinics, reports The Times.
The number of people being prescribed antidepressants has gone up 8% in three years and around 65% of people who have them have been taking them for more than a year. People can experience side effects when they try to stop taking them.
