Opioids: Senate calls for “increased vigilance” in the face of rising risks in France

In France, the report notes a "slow but gradual increase" in opioid use, although it is less than across the Atlantic. "If there is an increase, it's because we are still not completely protected," warns Anne Souyris. Between 2006 and 2017, the prescription of strong opioids increased by approximately 150% in France, according to the latest inventory compiled by the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) in 2019. In response to this increase, the report highlights prescriptions for these drugs, such as Tramadol, sometimes dispensed "without always paying attention to use disorders and the risk of addiction," a problem linked to "gaps" in the training of healthcare providers. Since March 1, codeine and tramadol can only be prescribed with a secure prescription, which is more difficult to forge than a traditional prescription.