In a paper published in Drug and Alcohol Dependence, a group of WHO experts determined when was the last scientific review of the substances controlled under the Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs and the Convention on Psychotropic Substances? Such a review can lead to a WHO recommendation to bring a substance under drug control – to remove or reschedule it.
They found that many substances were not reviewed for decades, including amphetamine, cannabis, MDMA, coca leaf, heroin, and the opioid analgesics hydrocodone and oxycodone. Twenty five substances were not reviewed since WHO took over this task from the League of Nations in 1948.
Morphine, opium and cocaine were never evaluated since the first Opium Convention was agreed on in 1912.
The scientific methods for review have developed and changed considerably over time. Therefore, outdated reviews undermine the legitimacy of drug control. As a remedy, the authors recommend a re-review at least every twenty years. They also provided a number of other recommendations to strengthen and speed up the review process and to acknowledge the differences in dependence producing properties between preparations that have slow vs. rapid kinetics. This could make a difference for access to analgesic medicines, as it is known that slow-release preparations are less likely to cause dependence and therefore some might be candidates for exemption from drug control.
E. Danenberg, L.A. Sorge, W. Wieniawski, S. Elliott, L. Amato, W.K. Scholten. Modernizing methodology for the WHO assessment of substances for the international drug control conventions. Drug and Alcohol Dependence 131 (2013) 175– 181. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.drugalcdep.2013.02.032.
Courtesy of Dr. Willem Scholten, PharmD, MPA Dr. Scholten is consultant in medicines and controlled substances E-mail: [email protected] Skype: wimscholten
Help us to help others: IAHPC's annual fundraiser!
How your gift supports the IAHPC mission
Achieved: $24,941
Goal: $30,000
83%
Education
Your gift funds the operational costs of our online courses taught by globally recognized experts who volunteer their time and provide educational resources relevant to palliative care topics. It also supports scholarships that enable palliative care workers to attend educational events and congresses, and allows us to maintain Pallipedia, the free, live, online dictionary.
The goal of this pillar is to implement strategies, resources and tools that will improve the competencies of the global workforce for appropriate palliative care delivery. We have two programs under this pillar plus many other resources for our members.
Your gift enables us to build and strengthen the partnerships that accelerate global, regional, and national advocacy for palliative care. We advocate for its integration into primary health care under universal health coverage and effective access to essential palliative care medicines and packages for people of all ages. Your gift supports our work to prepare delegates and participate in technical consultation meetings of the relevant UN organizations.
The goal this pillar is the integration of palliative care into primary health care within the spectrum of universal coverage to improve access to adequate care for patients in need. We offer the following to our members:
Documents on Human Rights and Access to Medicines and Care
Research
Your gift enables us to continue doing research that provides guidance and recommendations for action, based on responses from the global palliative care community. Such research includes our recent evaluation of the impact of euthanasia and assisted dying practices on palliative care workers and the use of essential medicines for palliative care. It also supports the costs of publications focused on research relevant to palliative care.
The goal of this pillar is to design and implement projects that lead to the integration of palliative care into health policies, resolutions, and key documents. Our studies help us provide guidance and recommendations, and take action based on the responses from the global palliative care community.
Your membership enables you to participate in IAHPC projects such as the:
Your gift enables us to continue our in-depth reporting and book reviews in Pallinews, as well as media campaigns that raise awareness about the need to increase access to care and support for patients and families.
We are a small organization that allocates over 80% of our budget to mission driven programs and to the maintenance of our free website. We need operational funding to continue the work.
Give a gift, get a gift
IAHPC members: When you gift a 2-year membership to a colleague in a low- or middle-income country, we extend your membership by 6 months.