From paracetamol to co-codamol, 24 million opioid prescriptions were given out in the UK in 2016, which is double that of just 10 years ago.
Europe's overall overdose deaths also rose for the third consecutive year in 2015 to 8,441; 81 per cent of which were related to opioids.
Now new research from the largest study of its kind reveals patients taking painkillers alongside medication for heart disease, stroke or diabetes are 95 per cent more likely to become obese as the sedative drugs make people inactive and affect their metabolism.
Results reveal people taking painkillers alongside drugs for heart disease, diabetes and stroke are 95 per cent more likely to be obese.
They are also 82 per cent more likely to have a 'very high risk' waist circumference and 63 per cent more likely to develop high blood pressure.
This may be due to painkillers causing sedation, which reduces people's desire to exercise.
