Academic Journal

Barriers to opioid use in the Arab world.

Bibliographic Details
Title:	Barriers to opioid use in the Arab world.
Authors:	Salmany S; Department of Pharmacy, King Hussein Cancer Center Amman, Jordan., Hammoudeh S; Department of Pharmacy, King Hussein Cancer Center Amman, Jordan., Al-Khrabsheh A; Department of Pharmacy, King Hussein Cancer Center Amman, Jordan., Jaddoua S; Department of Pharmacy, King Hussein Cancer Center Amman, Jordan., Shamieh O; Department of Palliative Care & Pain Management Services, Psychosocial Oncology Program, Center for Palliative & Cancer Care in Conflict (CPCCC), Faculty of Medicine, University of Jordan, Jordan.; Department of Palliative Care, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan., Treish I; Strategic Affairs Office, Department of strategic office, King Hussein Cancer Center, Amman, Jordan.
Source:	Journal of oncology pharmacy practice : official publication of the International Society of Oncology Pharmacy Practitioners [J Oncol Pharm Pract] 2026 Apr; Vol. 32 (3), pp. 479-489. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Nov 11.
Publication Type:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Journal Info:	Publisher: SAGE Publications Country of Publication: England NLM ID: 9511372 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1477-092X (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10781552 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Oncol Pharm Pract Subsets: MEDLINE
Imprint Name(s):	Publication: London : SAGE Publications Original Publication: Norwalk, CT : Appleton & Lange, c1995-
MeSH Terms:	Analgesics, Opioid/therapeutic use , Analgesics, Opioid/administration & dosage , Pain Management/methods , Practice Patterns, Pharmacists'/statistics & numerical data , Arab World* , Practice Patterns, Physicians'*, Humans ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Pharmacists
Abstract:	BackgroundThe Arab world consists of 22 countries, representing 5.5% of the world's population. Morphine consumption accounts for less than 1% of the world's consumption. This is the first study to identify barriers to opioid use in the Arab world.AimThis study aimed to investigate the barriers to opioid use in pain management in the Arab world.MethodOnline survey was developed to investigate barriers to governance, prescribing, distributing, dispensing and administering, as well as educational barriers in the Arab world. The questionnaire was sent via email and a mobile app to one expert physician in pain management and one licensed pharmacist from each Arab country.ResultsWith the exception of Tunisia, Djibouti and Comoros, 34(77%) participants from 19 Arab countries answered the survey. Most countries lack local opioid production, necessitate special licenses for physicians, and restrict opioid prescribing to medical specialists. Special prescription forms are mandated, and pharmacists lack the authority to correct prescription errors or accept refill or verbal orders on opioids. Storage requirements for empty ampoules and prescriptions are enforced. Nurses are not allowed to carry opioids during home visits, and only first degree relatives can collect opioids for patients. Furthermore, the integration of palliative care and pain management curricula into pharmacies and medical schools is lacking.ConclusionThere is a wide range of regulatory and other barriers to opioid use in the Arab world. There is a substantial need for regulatory review and reform, as well as for educational initiatives, in most Arab countries.
Competing Interests:	Declaration of conflicting interestsThe authors declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.
Contributed Indexing:	Keywords: Arab world; Opioids; educational barriers; regulatory barriers
Substance Nomenclature:	0 (Analgesics, Opioid)
Entry Date(s):	Date Created: 20241112 Date Completed: 20260420 Latest Revision: 20260420
Update Code:	20260420
DOI:	10.1177/10781552241292497
PMID:	39529368
Database:	MEDLINE

Description
ISSN:	1477-092X
DOI:	10.1177/10781552241292497