Zembla
The Pain epidemic
S35 • E3 Jan 12, 2026 40m
One in four Dutch people suffer from chronic pain. Many of them use highly addictive painkillers, such as oxycodone and fentanyl, to alleviate their symptoms. But strikingly, this actually leads to more pain, and they become addicted. Treating pain is extremely complex. What works for one patient is completely ineffective for another. Renowned pain specialists speak candidly about the feeling of helplessness they experience when confronted with yet another desperate patient. Nearly all experts warn of the devastating consequences of long-term opioid use.
