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Current trends in opioid consumption globally and in Middle Eastern countries
1Middle East Cancer Consortium (MECC), Haifa, Israel. cancer@mecc-research.com
Journal of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology
|March 31, 2011
Summary
Global opioid consumption is rising, with synthetic opioids like fentanyl seeing a steeper increase than traditional opiates such as morphine. This trend may be influenced by misconceptions about morphine and fentanyl
Area of Science:
- Pharmacology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Global opioid consumption has significantly increased over the last three decades.
- Opioid use is rising in Middle Eastern countries.
- Distinguishing between opiate and synthetic opioid consumption trends is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the consumption trends of opiates versus synthetic opioids globally and in the Middle East.
- To investigate potential reasons behind the differential rise in consumption rates.
- To address public health implications of changing opioid consumption patterns.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of global and regional opioid consumption data over a 30-year period.
- Comparative analysis of consumption increases for morphine and fentanyl.
- Examination of trends during specific periods (e.g., 2004-2008).
Main Results:
- Opiate consumption (morphine) increased by 19.8%, while synthetic opioid consumption (fentanyl) rose by 31.1% over 3 decades.
- From 2004-2008, morphine consumption increased by 16.6%, whereas fentanyl consumption surged by 45.2%.
- The rise in fentanyl consumption may be linked to its perceived distinction from "opioids" compared to morphine.
Conclusions:
- There is a notable and accelerating shift towards synthetic opioids, particularly fentanyl, in global consumption patterns.
- Misconceptions regarding morphine's effect on mortality may contribute to lower opiate use in some populations.
- Public health strategies must adapt to the increasing prevalence of synthetic opioid use and associated risks.
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