Sreekumar Kunnumpurath1, Natasha Julien2, Gopal Kodumudi3, Anamika Kunnumpurath4, Vijay Kodumudi5, Nalini Vadivelu6. 1. Epsom and St Helier Universty Hospitals, Wryth Lane, Carshalton, SM5 1AA, UK. 2. Department of Anesthesiology Staff Affiliate, Yale New Haven Hospital, Perioperative Services, Yale School of Medicine, 333 Cedar St #TMP3, New Haven, CT, 06510, USA. 3. California Northstate University College of Medicine, 9700 West Taron drive, Elk Grove, CT, 95757, USA. 4. Medical School, University College London, Gower Street Bloomsbury, London, WC1E 6BT, UK. 5. University of Connecticut School of Medicine, 263 Farmington Avenue, Farmington, CT, 06030-1905, USA. 6. Department of Anesthesiology, Yale University, TMP3 333, Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA. nalini.vadivelu@yale.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this review is to evaluate the global supply and demand of opioids used for pain management and discuss how it relates to the utilization of opioids around the world. The purpose of the review is also to determine the factors that contribute to inappropriate pain management. RECENT FINDINGS: The total global production of opium for opioid manufacturing is enough to supply the growing global demands. However, licit opioids are only consumed by 20% of the world population. Most people throughout the world had no access to opioid analgesics for pain relief in case of need. Opioid misuse and abuse is not only a phenomena plague by the USA but globally across many countries. Many countries have a lack of availability of opioids, contributing factors being strict government regulations limiting access, lack of knowledge of the efficacy of opioid analgesics in treating acute and chronic pain and palliative care, and the stigma that opioids are highly addictive. For the countries in which opioids are readily available and prescribed heavily, diversion, misuse, abuse, and the resurgence of heroin have become problems leading to morbidity and mortality. It is pertinent to find a balance between having opioids accessible to patients in need, with ensuring that opioids are regulated along with other illicit drugs to decrease abuse potential.
PURPOSE OF REVIEW: The goal of this review is to evaluate the global supply and demand of opioids used for pain management and discuss how it relates to the utilization of opioids around the world. The purpose of the review is also to determine the factors that contribute to inappropriate pain management. RECENT FINDINGS: The total global production of opium for opioid manufacturing is enough to supply the growing global demands. However, licit opioids are only consumed by 20% of the world population. Most people throughout the world had no access to opioid analgesics for pain relief in case of need. Opioid misuse and abuse is not only a phenomena plague by the USA but globally across many countries. Many countries have a lack of availability of opioids, contributing factors being strict government regulations limiting access, lack of knowledge of the efficacy of opioid analgesics in treating acute and chronic pain and palliative care, and the stigma that opioids are highly addictive. For the countries in which opioids are readily available and prescribed heavily, diversion, misuse, abuse, and the resurgence of heroin have become problems leading to morbidity and mortality. It is pertinent to find a balance between having opioids accessible to patients in need, with ensuring that opioids are regulated along with other illicit drugs to decrease abuse potential.
Entities:
Keywords:
Global opioid demand; Global opioid supply; Opioid; Opioid analgesics; Pain management; Prescription opioids
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