Legal opioid consumption in Denmark 1981-1993

According to the World Health Organisation, a country's morphine consumption is an important indicator of progress in cancer pain relief. Due to its very high opioid consumption, Denmark is often pointed out as a country worthy of imitation. The aim of the present study was to analyse Danish opioid consumption in order to elucidate the usage pattern and to identify the consumers. Total opioid consumption increased 353% from 1981 to 1993, exceeding 1.45 million defined daily doses per million inhabitants in 1993. Morphine accounted for 39%, methadone 22%, ketobemidone 21% and buprenorphine for 14% of the consumption use. The consumption of long acting opioids (sustained release morphine, methadone, buprenorphine) and short acting opioids (others) increased by 1427% and 105%, respectively. Analysis of a sample of 1854 prescriptions for opioids revealed that less than 10% of the prescriptions were issued for cancer pain conditions. It is concluded: that if other countries consider Denmark as worthy of imitation in opioid treatment for cancer pain, attention should be paid to the pattern of the Danish opioid consumption, which is outstanding with respect to quantity but the quality may be questionable.