The British journal of general practice : the journal of the Royal College of General Practitioners
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Observational Study
Private prescribing of controlled opioids in England, 2014-2021: a retrospective observational study.
Trends in NHS opioid prescribing have been well published, yet trends in private prescribing of opioids have not been widely established. ⋯ Controlled opioids prescribed by private prescribers in England decreased and were primarily prescribed in London. To ensure patient safety, the monitoring and surveillance of controlled opioids dispensed privately should continue and items linked to 'unidentified doctors' should be addressed further.