The medical consumption of opioids in Colombia, 1997-2007

The World Health Organization classifies opioid analgesics as essential medicines in the treatment of severe pain and recommends their increased availability. The combination of availability, training of professionals, and a legal framework granting access to these medicines has led to a sharp increase in the consumption of morphine and other opioids in developed countries. However, in Colombia, consumption of opioid analgesics appears to fail to meet patient needs. To analyze the current trends in medical consumption of opioids in Colombia, the numbers of defined daily doses of opioid analgesics for total inhabitants and the population that died of cancer between 1997 and 2007 were calculated and compared. The import of raw materials and medicines varied greatly every year. However, from 2003, a trend toward the increased consumption of morphine, hydromorphone, and methadone was observed. Availability was inconsistent and opioid consumption showed an increase when calculated for total inhabitants and for cancer deaths. The unreliable availability of opioid analgesics may be responsible for their limited consumption. Chronic underuse and a trend toward increased consumption have been confirmed. Monitoring of consumption to promote rational use is recommended.