Korean J Pain.  2024 Jan;37(1):41-50. 10.3344/kjp.23234.

Current status of opioid prescription in South Korea using narcotics information management system

• Yoon SH
• Kim J
• Yoon S
• Lee HJ

• KMID: 2550131
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3344/kjp.23234

Abstract

Background
Recognizing the seriousness of the misuse and abuse of medical narcotics, the South Korean government introduced the world's first narcotic management system, the Narcotics Information Management System (NIMS). This study aimed to explore the recent one-year opioid prescribing patterns in South Korea using the NIMS database.
Methods
This study analyzed opioid prescription records in South Korea for the year 2022, utilizing the dispensing/ administration dataset provided by NIMS. Public data from the Korean Statistical Information Service were also utilized to explore prescription trends over the past four years. The examination covered 16 different opioid analgesics, assessed by the total number of units prescribed based on routes of administration, type of institutions, and patients’ sex and age group. Additionally, the disposal rate for each ingredient was computed.
Results
In total, 206,941 records of 87,792,968 opioid analgesic units were analyzed. Recently, the overall quantity of prescribed opioid analgesic units has remained relatively stable. The most prescribed ingredient was oral oxycodone, followed by tapentadol and sublingual fentanyl. Tertiary hospitals had the highest number of dispensed units (49.4%), followed by community pharmacies (40.2%). The highest number of prescribed units was attributed to male patients in their 60s. The disposal rates of the oral and transdermal formulations were less than 0.1%.
Conclusions
Opioid prescription in South Korea features a high proportion of oral formulations, tertiary hospital administration, pharmacy dispensing, and elderly patients. Sustained education and surveillance of patients and healthcare providers is required.

Keyword

Analgesics; Opioid; Medical Informatics; Narcotics; Opioid Epidemic; Opioid-Related Disorders; Oxycodone; Prescriptions; Prescription Drug Monitoring Programs

Figure

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  Fig. 1 The total number of units of opioid analgesics prescribed was examined based on administration routes in 2022.

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  Fig. 2 The total number of units of opioid analgesics dispensed (A) and prescribed (B) was analyzed based on the type of institutions in 2022. In (A), 'others' included traditional medicine hospitals, psychiatric hospitals, dental hospitals, and dental clinics. In (B), 'others' included psychiatric hospitals, dental hospitals, dental clinics, and public healthcare centers.

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  Fig. 3 The total number of units of opioid analgesics prescribed was analyzed based on the patient’s sex and age group in 2022.

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