¿Cómo es el uso de medicamentos opioides en España? Análisis de los datos de la encuesta EDADES 2017

Abstract

Objectives: Quantify the level of use of opioid medicines in this general population, the level of follow-up to prescribed guidelines, the reason for use, and the means of obtaining these medicines in Spain. Methodology: Analysis of the raw data for the EDADES 2017 study that has been conducted in Spain every two years since 1995 among the general population (15 to 64 years of age). After categorizing and cleaning the data, several pivot tables were performed to extract the desired information. Results: In Spain the prevalence of any opioid drug use at 12 months was 6.7 % of the population between 15 and 64 years of age. 87 % of this use was associated with weak opioids (tramadol or codeine) and the rest was related to major opioids, with morphine being the most widely used with 8% of total opioid users. 92 % of people obtained the medicine through their own prescription while 4 % obtained it at the pharmacy without a prescription and an additional 3 % obtained it through friends or family. 74 % of patients had followed the dose and duration of treatment guidelines prescribed by the doctor, while 19 % had used opioid medicines in lower doses or for less time than prescribed. Conclusions: Use of strong opioids is low in Spain, most patients use it under medical supervision and following the guidelines prescribed by the doctor. Patients who obtain opioid medications without their own prescription as well as those who use it differently than the prescribed one need to be tracked.