Prescribing practices and use of opioid analgesics: a sociological analysis

The study on the use of analgesic opioid medicines (EMOA) by the French Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (OFDT) examines their prescription in general practice and the experiences of who consider themselves to be having difficulty with them in the treatment of chronic pain unrelated to cancer in France.

Médecin en consultation avec un patient
See the notice on the bibliographic catalog

Based mainly on in-depth interviews with 23 general practitioners (GPs) and 25 patients, it analyses, on the one hand, prescribing practices, by examining the decision to prescribe (and deprescribe) opioid analgesics and, on the other hand, patients’ medication pathways, by examining the place of these drugs in their life and health trajectories. 

This research analyses the difficulties encountered by doctors in the prescribing process (particularly in stopping or continuing prescriptions when they are not responsible for initiating them), and those associated with prolonged, regular, or recurrent use by patients.

Publication type
Reports
Publication date
Language
Français
Author(s)
DUPRAT
Laura
Edited by
OFDT
Number of pages
104
ISBN
979-10-92728-74-3
Products & addictions
Heroin and opioids
Themes
Treatment
Users
Specific population(s)
Adults
Territories
France
Dispositif d'enquête et d'observation
Sociological and qualitative surveys

See also

30 years of penal response to driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
  • Alcohol
  • Cannabis
  • Cocaine and crack
  • Heroin and opioids
  • MDMA/ecstasy and amphetamine
Tendances
161
2024
OFDT
8 pages
Drug use in adolescence: trends reported in 2022
  • Alcohol
  • Cannabis
  • e-Cigarette
  • Cocaine and crack
  • GHB and solvents
  • Heroin and opioids
  • Ketamine
  • LSD and mushrooms
  • MDMA/ecstasy and amphetamine
  • Poppers
  • Nitrous oxide
  • Tobacco
Briefing papers
2024
OFDT
17 pages
Psychoactive substances, users and markets in France in 2022
  • Benzodiazepines and gabapentinoids
  • Cannabis
  • Cocaine and crack
  • Heroin and opioids
  • Ketamine
  • LSD and mushrooms
  • MDMA/ecstasy and amphetamine
  • New Psychoactive Substances
  • Poppers
  • Nitrous oxide
  • Others
Tendances
160
2023
OFDT
8 pages

latest publications Reports

All publications Reports
Behavioural addictions: definitions, issues and debates
  • Behavioural addiction
  • Gambling
  • Treatment
  • Users
  • France
  • International

Behavioural addictions still make up a scientific and clinical field under construction, characterised by a low consensus level which results in large numbers of concepts, terms, definitions and measuring tools.

Reports
2023
OFDT
73 pages
Quitting smoking: a review of the social science publications
  • e-Cigarette
  • Tobacco
  • Treatment
  • France

This review of the social science publications on trajectories to quit smoking begins with an account of surveys looking at methods used to help smokers quit and professionals involved in helping them. The second part of the report deals with studies analysing the impact of socioeconomic variables on smoking behaviour and/or cessation.

Reports
2023
OFDT
40 pages
Cocaine: a booming market, developments and trends in France (2000-2022)
  • Cocaine and crack
  • Supply and markets
  • Users
  • France
  • International

In the general context of a background of booming global cocaine production, this Théma report provides an assessment of the situation in France.

Reports
2023
OFDT
65 pages
Current knowledge on online sports betting
  • Gambling
  • Supply and markets
  • France

A review of the international literature on online sports betting demonstrates that current knowledge about so-called “problem” sports betting remains largely unknown. Although the data is incomplete among the general population, “excessive” practices have nevertheless been noted, in particular through surveys of Internet users.

Reports
2022
OFDT
25 pages