Use of and barriers to access to opioid analgesics worldwide

A new analysis finds that use of opioid analgesics—which are critical for treating pain—increased significantly in North America, western and central Europe, and Oceania from 2001–13. The same was not true for Africa, Asia, Central America, South America, Caribbean nations, or eastern and southeastern Europe—where use of such drugs has been checked by a lack of awareness and training, fear of dependence or diversion, financial limitations, and procurement snags, among other factors.