Opioids outside US

[Dave]

Recently I have read that the United States consumes 80% of the prescription opioids in the world.  Also, hydrocodone is the #1 prescribed drug in the United States.

It seems that either they are overprescribed in the United States or that there is not enough access to prescription opioids in the rest of the world!  (or both)

I am curious as to how tightly regulated prescription opioids are outside the US, how commonly they are prescribed outside the US, and how people outside the US feel about this issue. Can anyone answer or comment?

Thanks,
Dave

[ezer]

Having lived on both side of the Atlantic, my experience is that European doctors are more inclined to tell their patients to "tough it up". Pain killers are rarely prescribed even after major dental work for example. It seems to me that in the US doctors are always expected to prescribe "something".

[calluna]

I agree with what ezer says, the example of major dental work is a good one. I've had morphine and oxycodone whilst I've been in post-op in hospital, but I have never had them under other circumstances - in fact I've been sent home with a packet of paracetamol every time.