[Revision of the legal prescription requirements for strong opioids in the federal republic of Germany-an initiative of the German association for the study of pain.].

In the Federal Republic of Germany, strict regulations complicate the prescription of strong opioids to patients suffering from severe pain. In summer 1991 the German Association for the Study of Pain launched an initiative directed at simplification of the prescription requirements for such analgesics and submitted the suggestions to the ministries responsible. In the meantime a draft bill has been presented by the Ministry of Health, with due consideration for the main recommendations. For example, substantial increases in the permitted quantities of the individual narcotic analgesics and the prescription periods are planned. Moreover, the prescriptions are to be simpler to make out and certain exemptions have been specified by law. Acceptance of the bill by the political committees and its realization are expected in autumn 1992.