1.5 million tramadol painkillers stolen from lorry

In March 2018 David Rhodes reported on the theft of more than 1.5 million powerful prescription painkillers from a lorry at a service station.

The story came about after David obtained an NHS "alert message" revealing the theft.

Get the data

• ONS: Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales Statistical bulletins - specifically the latest figures for 2016, published in 2017. A copy of the spreadsheet can be found in this repo
• Sheet 6a contains a breakdown by substance, including Tramadol

Quotes and interviews

• Ian Hamilton, lecturer in mental health and addiction studies, University of York
• Spokeswoman, NHS England in Yorkshire and the Humber (did not answer questions about why staff were told not to disclose the theft)
• Helen Pipe, controlled drugs liaison officer, West Yorkshire Police