I am an experienced specialist pharmacist prescriber in substance misuse, I deal with patients every day like Katie Emma Corrigan who have had similar backgrounds. Sadly, it's very easy to be focused that the dispensing of codeine was to blame for her demise. I agree that issuing of control drugs should be tighter by prescribers. Independent prescribers in my view are being exploited, being allowed to work for conveyor belt prescribing organizations. Some form of formal contact is essential to prescribe in my view phone calls video call or face-to-face (which is the gold standard) The GP should not have abruptly stopped her codeine – this is improper Things went wrong when the GP stopped her prescription: “When the weaknesses in the GP prescribing system were identified, the GP refused to prescribe further Zapain without a discussion with Mrs. Corrigan” This may have caused a drop in tolerance and forced the patient to seek illicit drugs or drugs via other means putting the patient at risk. The article should be about how we manage opiate risks. And the correct referral pathway should be built into systems to identify these and manage such risks. Referral to specialist opiate/substance misuse services The focus has been on codeine its classification and how easy to obtain, which in my eyes is a polarised view and does not address a wider problem.

I am disappointed that a full tail is not reflected on regarding the death of the nurse who died due to a combination of medication. Although I don't know the full storey there are numerous points which needs to be addressed ... Why did the GP stop prescribing the medication? Was she referred to a specialist substance misuse clinic what was the status of her mental health addressed? I do NOT believe that the major contributory factor was that of codeine being bought OTC  I agree that the sale of codeine linctus needs some more checks and balances but it is unreasonable to state that this could be the major cause of her death  May her soul be blessed God rest her soul