“To prevent opioid crisis in Japan” ― from the standpoint of a pharmaceutical company

Abstract

In Japan, opioid crisis became widely known by President Trump's declaration of a state of emergency in public health. The opioid crisis began with good intentions for patients suffering from pain against the backdrop of a social environment left behind by globalization, and expanded with a strategy that downplayed the risks of opioids by pharmaceutical companies that misused the practice and policy shifts. The opioid crisis has not yet occurred in Japan, but we should not be optimistic. Also, as cancer treatment improves, the number of cancer survivors is increasing, so we must be vigilant. Once an opioid crisis occurs, it is difficult to resolve. Therefore, all healthcare professionals involved in opioid therapy are required to work together for appropriate use.