Decrease in Opioid Dispensation in Iceland: A Positive Trend
The latest report from the Icelandic Directorate of Health has revealed a notable decrease in the number of Icelanders filling prescriptions for opioids in the past year. This decline marks the lowest recorded dispensation of opioids per capita since the inception of the pharmaceutical database. This trend is viewed positively in the recent edition of Talnabrunnur, the Directorate’s newsletter on health information.
Concerns Over Increasing Oxycodone Use
Despite the overall decline, there is growing concern about the rising use of oxycodone. More individuals were prescribed oxycodone or a combination of oxycodone and naloxone in 2023 compared to previous years. Consequently, the dispensed quantity of these medications has increased. While the proportion of people receiving small daily doses of such painkillers has grown, fewer individuals are obtaining medication for more than nine days’ worth.
Opioid Use in Iceland vs. Neighboring Countries
The report emphasizes the need for further reduction in opioid usage to align with levels in neighboring countries. Specifically, the use of Parkódín and Parkódín forte should be minimized, with a shift towards non-opioid pain relievers. Although opioid sales in Iceland have decreased following a slight rise during the COVID-19 pandemic years of 2021 and 2022, these sales were still a quarter higher last year compared to Norway, which ranks second to Iceland.
Efforts to Combat Opioid Overuse
The Directorate of Health and other institutions have actively implemented measures to curb opioid overuse and enhance the safety of pain management treatments. Opioid usage tends to increase with age; last year, over 30% of individuals over 80 years filled prescriptions for these medications. However, all age groups, except those between 67 to 79 years, reduced their opioid use last year.
Gender Disparities in Opioid Usage
There is a significant gender disparity in opioid dispensation, with 18.8% of women collecting opioid prescriptions last year compared to 13.2% of men. The introduction of a centralized pharmaceutical database has made it more difficult for people to obtain similar medications from multiple doctors simultaneously. The upcoming implementation of a centralized prescription card is expected to further prevent excessive prescriptions of addictive medications, thereby enhancing the overall safety of drug treatments in the long term.
Comparative Analysis with Nordic Countries
In recent years, opioid sales have steadily declined across the Nordic countries, with Denmark experiencing the most significant reduction at approximately 45% over the past fifteen years. This contrasts with the situation in Iceland, where sales remained relatively stable or slightly increased during the pandemic. The comparison highlights the need for Iceland to adopt more rigorous measures to align with the successful strategies implemented by its Nordic neighbors.
Conclusion and Future Prospects
The decrease in opioid dispensation in Iceland marks a positive step towards addressing the challenges of opioid overuse. However, the rise in oxycodone prescriptions and the existing gender disparities underscore the need for continued vigilance and targeted interventions. As Iceland endeavors to match the progress seen in neighboring countries, the implementation of comprehensive monitoring systems and educational campaigns will be crucial in fostering responsible opioid use and enhancing public health outcomes.