ABSTRACT Objective:To learn the level and trend of opioid analgesics clinical use and the consumption adequacy of opioid analgesic treatment of moderate to severe pain, as well as the pain control level of China with international comparisons. Methods: A retrospective analysis was carried out to show the consumption frequency (DDDs) and the trend of opioid analgesics clinical use in China from 2006 to 2016. Adequacy of consumption measure (ACM) was used to gauge the amount of needed morphine equivalents and the overall adequacy of opioid analgesic treatment of moderate to severe pain in China, and compared with international data. Results:The consumption frequency of opioid analgesics (DDDs) in China increased from 0.97 billion DDDs in 2006 to 37.03 billion DDDs in 2016. The growth rate was faster at first, especially in 2013, then the growth slowed down, and decreased slightly in 2015. The ACM value based on hospital procurement data increased from 0.003 4 in 2006 to 0.010 2 in 2016, which has always been at the international comparative level of “very poor”. The ACM value based on the International Narcotics Control Board statistics increased from 0.004 9 in 2006 to 0.011 6 in 2013 (still “very poor”), followed with continued drops. Conclusion:The consumption of opioid analgesics for treatment of moderate to severe pain in China has always been inadequate during 2006 2016. There has been a huge gap between China and the international level. There are many reasons behind this, which lie in different aspects, including medical staff, patients and the public, health systems and social & cultural aspects. It is necessary to strengthen the training and education of the medical staff and the patients, to use mass media to disseminate scientific knowledge of pain management, to encourage communications between doctors and patients, to improve regulatory system for controlled medicines and the overall health systems, and to balance the regulatory goal of avoidance of abuse, and the goal of meeting the increasing needs of the people for better life. |