As opioid overdose deaths surge in America, millions of people around the world die in preventable pain, according to a study published in The Lancet.
For the study, researcher's analyzed information published in numerous studies — as well as data compiled by international organizations — on palliative care and opioid distribution around the globe. Researchers found more than 25 million of the 56.2 million people who died in 2015 did so in pain that could have been alleviated by opioids,
The study's authors determined the international gap in palliative care pain control could be closed by a $145 million investment, which would allow for the international distribution of pain relief treatment packages. The packages would include immediate-release oral and injectable morphine, which cost pennies per dose.
The $145 million sum is less than some pharmaceutical companies pay for marketing in a given year, according to The Atlantic. Therefore, the study authors suggested drug companies should be prohibited from advertising to providers and patients, as marketing played a significant role in the proliferation of opioids in the U.S.
"The dearth of pain relief medicine is a key component of the global palliative care access abyss," wrote the study' authors. "A well-functioning and balanced global system must both prevent nonmedical use and misuse of medicines and ensure effective access to essential medicines for palliative care, including opioids for pain relief."
More than 33,000 U.S. residents died of an opioid overdose in 2015. Nearly half of those deaths involved a prescription opioid.
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