Coronation Street producers have won praise from doctors for the soap’s current painkiller addiction storyline.

Recently, viewers have seen Gail Platt’s love interest Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) abusing prescription drugs after struggling with a back injury.

Experts at The Priory Group, which operates drug and alcohol treatment centres across the country, have now backed the programme’s decision to tackle the issue on screen.

Dr Ash Kahn told The Sun: “Medication abuse can be very dangerous. Misuse of over-the-counter or prescription drugs can lead to dependence that is physical and mental.”

Dinsdaletold the media that he was quitting Coronation Street last month. His character’s drugs plot paves the way for the kitchen fitter’s exit, which sees his relationship with Gail (Helen Worth) break down.

The actor’s debut scenes, showing Joe reuniting with daughter Tina (Michelle Keegan), aired in May last year.