Morphine: myths, morality and economics.

It is a tragedy that morphine is scarcely available for between 1.3 and 2.5 billion people whilst 3.5 million cancer patients suffer needlessly. In only 10 countries is its consumption rising, in many more only codeine consumption shows an increase, and in many areas even in the Western world prescribing is grossly limited, fears of psychological addiction persist, professional education of doctors and nurses in analgesia remains minimal and too much importance is attached to expensive sophisticated methods of administration. Doctors have a professional and a moral responsibility to press for improved morphine availability in the most useful and economical forms worldwide.