OPIOID DRUGS ARE SO DEMONISED THEIR PALLIATIVE VALUE HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN

Sir, Perhaps your editorial "The unwinnable war on dangerous drugs"
(January 15/16) could also have mentioned an important and often
overlooked casualty of this unwinnnable war.

With specific reference to heroin (and other heroin-type opioid
drugs), incalculable damage has been done to palliative care for
millions of dying people, especially in the developing world, as a
result of its indiscriminate demonisation in anti-drugs
campaigning.

The United Nations International Narcotics Control Board recently
stated that in 120 countries, including some where poppies are grown,
there is little or no recorded medical use of any opioid.

Even in the developed world there is ample evidence of inadequate use
of, and sometimes complete refusal to prescribe (so-called
opiophobia), these drugs, even though they are far and away the most
effective to relieve physical pain and mental distress in terminal
illness.

Don Aston, Shirley, Solihull