Laura Dhaese

BRUSSELS - BRUSSELS – One in ten Belgians uses strong painkillers such as oxycodone, tramadol and fentanyl. While these are effective painkillers, they carry a high risk of addiction: around 8% of people who come into contact with opioid painkillers become dependent on them. The longer you take them, the higher the risk. In this article, research journalists Laura Dhaese and Marie Borremans focus on the patient's perspective, asking how to overcome an addiction to painkillers and what kind of care is available.