Pain, anxiety and insomnia--a global perspective on the relief of suffering: comparative review.
BACKGROUND
The unavailability of psychotropic and analgesic drugs for medical purposes results in suffering that goes unrelieved. Their excessive availability results in overmedication and suffering of a different kind. Aims To highlight the discrepancies between the demand for and supply of controlled drugs for licit purposes by different communities, and to promote their rational utilisation.


METHODS
Review of the United Nations, World Health Organization and other literature on the licit use of narcotic analgesics and psychotropic substances.


RESULTS
There are large differences in the use of psychotropics and analgesics by different countries. The differences between industrialised and non-industrialised countries are particularly striking. There is evidence of unmet need in some countries and overutilisation in others.


CONCLUSIONS
Governments, international organisations, health professionals and the pharmaceutical industry must work together to ensure an adequate supply of psychotropic and analgesic drugs for medical and scientific purposes, and to implement appropriate measures to minimise the development of misuse and dependence.
Ghodse
Hamid
H
International Centre for Addiction Studies, Department of Addictive Behaviour and Psychological Medicine, St George's Hospital Medical School, Cranmer Terrace, London SW17 0RE, UK.
D000700:Analgesics / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001007:Anxiety / Q000628:therapy; D003906:Developing Countries; D016527:Drug Costs; D004345:Drug Industry; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control / Q000331:legislation & jurisprudence*; D004992:Ethics, Medical; D014943:Global Health; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006801:Humans; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs / Q000600:supply & distribution / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000628:therapy; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
D000700:Analgesics; D011619:Psychotropic Drugs