An Overview of the use and Misuse/Abuse of Opioid Analgesics in Different World Regions and Future Perspectives

Abstract

Opioids are an important therapeutic option for severe resistant chronic pain but, in the absence of proper oversight, their use has risks. The level of prescription opioid misuse/abuse differs among countries, due to differences in healthcare systems and pain management approaches. However, evaluating the true dimension of prescription opioid misuse/abuse is complicated by statistical reporting which often does not differentiate between prescription and illicit opioid use, or between prescription opioid use by patients and nonpatients, highlighting a need for greater uniformity. Parallel efforts to educate patients and the general public about opioid risks, facilitate appropriate analgesic prescribing and identify alternative formulations or options to use instead of or with opioids, may contribute to optimizing prescription opioid use for pain management.

Keywords::

• abuse
• chronic pain
• opioid analgesics
• opioid use disorder
• prescribing

Financial & competing interests disclosure

V Mayoral has received honoraria and fees for the provision of expert opinion from Almirall, Archimedes Pharma, Ferrer, Grünenthal GmbH, Menarini, Mundipharma, Pfizer, and Takeda. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed.

Writing and editorial assistance was provided by Content Ed Net (Madrid, Spain), with funding from Almirall S.A. (Barcelona, Spain).

Additional information

Funding

V Mayoral has received honoraria and fees for the provision of expert opinion from Almirall, Archimedes Pharma, Ferrer, Grünenthal GmbH, Menarini, Mundipharma, Pfizer, and Takeda. The author has no other relevant affiliations or financial involvement with any organization or entity with a financial interest in or financial conflict with the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript apart from those disclosed. Writing and editorial assistance was provided by Content Ed Net (Madrid, Spain), with funding from Almirall S.A. (Barcelona, Spain).