Opioid consumption in Spain--the significance of a regulatory measure.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the impact of new regulatory measures on opioid consumption in Spain during the period 1985-1998.


METHODS
A search in the ECOM (Especialidades Consumo de Medicamentos) database of the Ministry of Health was made for the 1985-1998 period. This database contains information about drug preparations prescribed in primary care in the National Health System in Spain.


RESULTS
Since 1985-1998, the overall opioid consumption has increased tenfold, from 94.7 DDD (defined daily dose) per million inhabitants per day to more than 1000 DDD. For the five drugs that require a special prescription form (morphine, methadone, pethidine, tilidine and fentanyl), the consumption has increased 13.5-fold.


CONCLUSIONS
A huge increase in opioid consumption has occurred. In this increase, changes in supply and, to a lesser extent, regulatory measures have played an important role.
García del Pozo
J
J
Instituto de Farmacoepidemiología, Universidad de Valladolid, C/Ramón y Cajal, Spain.
Carvajal
A
A
Rueda de Castro
A M
AM
Cano del Pozo
M I
MI
Martín Arias
L H
LH
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004363:Drug Utilization / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005283:Fentanyl / Q000008:administration & dosage; D006801:Humans; D008614:Meperidine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008691:Methadone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D009020:Morphine / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D013993:Tilidine / Q000008:administration & dosage
D000701:Analgesics, Opioid; D009020:Morphine; D008614:Meperidine; D013993:Tilidine; D008691:Methadone; D005283:Fentanyl