Análise de dados de consumo de analgésicos opioides no Brasil

Abstract

Opioid analgesics are extremely important and widely used in the clinical practice, especially in cases of moderate to severe pain. However, these medications have the potential to cause dependence and are widely used recreationally and irrationally due to their effects of analgesia, euphoria and sedation. The consumption of this class of medication in Brazil has increased in the past years, causing concern, given the so-called “opioid crisis” that has been occurring in North American countries for some years, mainly in the United States and Canada. There are few studies that evaluate the causes and consequences of the potential increase in the consumption of these medications specifically in Brazil and Latin America. The present study seeks to correlate what is in the scientific literature with data on opioid consumption in Brazil to obtain an overview of the consumption of these medications and actions that must be taken to prevent them from impairing public health due to irrational use.