Hamid Ghodse1. 1. International Centre for Addiction Studies, Department of Addictive Behaviour and Psychological Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The unavailability of psychotropic and analgesic drugs for medical purposes results in suffering that goes unrelieved. Their excessive availability results in overmedication and suffering of a different kind. Aims To highlight the discrepancies between the demand for and supply of controlled drugs for licit purposes by different communities, and to promote their rational utilisation. METHOD: Review of the United Nations, World Health Organization and other literature on the licit use of narcotic analgesics and psychotropic substances. RESULTS: There are large differences in the use of psychotropics and analgesics by different countries. The differences between industrialised and non-industrialised countries are particularly striking. There is evidence of unmet need in some countries and overutilisation in others. CONCLUSIONS: Governments, international organisations, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry must work together to ensure an adequate supply of psychotropic and analgesic drugs for medical and scientific purposes, and to implement appropriate measures to minimise the development of misuse and dependence.
BACKGROUND: The unavailability of psychotropic and analgesic drugs for medical purposes results in suffering that goes unrelieved. Their excessive availability results in overmedication and suffering of a different kind. Aims To highlight the discrepancies between the demand for and supply of controlled drugs for licit purposes by different communities, and to promote their rational utilisation. METHOD: Review of the United Nations, World Health Organization and other literature on the licit use of narcotic analgesics and psychotropic substances. RESULTS: There are large differences in the use of psychotropics and analgesics by different countries. The differences between industrialised and non-industrialised countries are particularly striking. There is evidence of unmet need in some countries and overutilisation in others. CONCLUSIONS: Governments, international organisations, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry must work together to ensure an adequate supply of psychotropic and analgesic drugs for medical and scientific purposes, and to implement appropriate measures to minimise the development of misuse and dependence.
Authors: Timothy J Ives; Paul R Chelminski; Catherine A Hammett-Stabler; Robert M Malone; J Stephen Perhac; Nicholas M Potisek; Betsy Bryant Shilliday; Darren A DeWalt; Michael P Pignone Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2006-04-04 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Paul R Chelminski; Timothy J Ives; Katherine M Felix; Steven D Prakken; Thomas M Miller; J Stephen Perhac; Robert M Malone; Mary E Bryant; Darren A DeWalt; Michael P Pignone Journal: BMC Health Serv Res Date: 2005-01-13 Impact factor: 2.655
Authors: Ai Koyanagi; Noe Garin; Beatriz Olaya; Jose Luis Ayuso-Mateos; Somnath Chatterji; Matilde Leonardi; Seppo Koskinen; Beata Tobiasz-Adamczyk; Josep Maria Haro Journal: PLoS One Date: 2014-12-05 Impact factor: 3.240