아편유사제의 안전한 사용을 위한 국외 규제 및 전략 비교 - 미국, 영국, 호주 3개국을 중심으로

Comparison of International Regulations and Strategies for the Safe Use of Opioids : Insights from the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia

Opioids are essential for pain management in patients with serious diseases, but dependence, misuse, and addiction have emerged as serious public health problems. This study investigates opioid regulation, clinical guidelines, and prevention/education programs in the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, three advanced healthcare nations, to identify strategies applicable to South Korea. All three countries have strict laws regulating opioid use, clinical guidelines targeting healthcare providers, and prevention and education programs. The United States prevents opioid misuse through clinical guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the ‘National Prescription Drug Take Back Day program’. The United Kingdom prevents overdose through National Institute for health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines and the ‘Take Home Naloxone program’. Australia manages opioid use through guidelines from the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA) and data collection from National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data (NOPSAD). Although South Korea has recently established a framework for the safe use of medical narcotics through the “Comprehensive Narcotics Control Plan”, specific guidelines and prevention programs for opioids are in the beginning stage. This comprehensive approach, informed by successful international strategies, is valuable for enhancing opioid safety and addressing the challenges in South Korea’s opioid management system.