03/04/2026
Why are people with Sickle Cell Disorder still being labelled as “drug seeking”?
Let’s be clear.
Opioids are often introduced in childhood as part of managing sickle cell pain.
Patients did not ask for them. They were prescribed.
So when someone comes into A&E asking for the only thing that has ever controlled their pain, that is not addiction.
That is a patient following their treatment plan.
A sickle cell crisis is not mild pain.
It is severe, debilitating, whole-body pain.
And from a clinical perspective, pain should be treated quickly and effectively. Delays are not just harmful, they increase the risk of complications.
So when patients are left waiting for hours, or judged for asking for relief, we have to question what’s really happening.
This is why people delay going to hospital.
This is why people try to manage at home.
This is why some people avoid pain relief altogether, even when it puts them at risk.
This is not just about misunderstanding.
It’s about bias, assumptions, and gaps in care.
We need to do better.
chronicillness healthjustice invisibleillness