Video 1: Introduction to Module 5

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From the course by University of Geneva

Drugs, drug use, drug policy and health

27 ratings

University of Geneva

Drugs, drug use, drug policy and health

27 ratings

This MOOC is the first of its kind, since it addresses critical issues related to drugs from a multidisciplinary, health and human rights-based approach. Throughout the course you will cover a range of questions including what are drugs and why they controlled? What are the benefits and harms of taking drugs? How public health policies can address drug use? You will also learn about the intricacies of the international drug control framework and the negative consequences of widespread prohibitionist drug policies around the world. Finally, you will examine ways of furthering drug policy reform. The topics will be presented by over 40 speakers from scientific, academic and institutional backgrounds, spokespersons of civil society as well as people who use drugs presenting their views. By the end of the course you will have: - a strong understanding of the major health issues related to drug use and drug policy; - a clear vision of why drug policy is debated today; - and, if you so wish, you will be equipped to engage in the drug policy reform movement at your local or regional level.

From the lesson

MODULE 5: Medical access to opioids for the management of pain and to other controlled medicines

Welcome to Module 5 which looks at access to controlled medicines. During this week, you will learn how the international scheduling of drugs works; be presented with some of the main barriers to access to essential medicines and look specifically at the case of the opioid epidemic which is ravaging through the United States at the moment. The medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids is also a highlight of this week and one that is particularly relevant in a number of countries around the world at present. By the end of this Module you will be able to: • Describe the scheduling of controlled medicines; • Recognize the barriers to access to controlled medicines and discuss the challenges posed by prescription drugs epidemics; • and examine the current issues around the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids. We hope you enjoy this week, which is slightly different to the other Modules in terms of its specific topic but adds a lot of important information in terms of understanding the international drug control framework and issues related to drugs, drug use and policies as well as possible. Best wishes,The Drugs, Drug Use, Drug Policy and Health team

Video 1: Introduction to Module 53:55

Video 2: The international scheduling of drugs9:31

Video 3: How the international system of scheduling of drugs works: the WHO perspective3:27

Meet the Instructors

Michel Kazatchkine
Senior Fellow
Global Health Center, Graduate Institute for International Affairs and Development, Geneva
Barbara Broers
Professor (in Addiction Medicine)
Community Health Departement, Geneva University Hospitals
Jennifer Hasselgard-Rowe
Researcher and Lecturer
Institute of Global Health, University of Geneva
Aymeric Reyre
Senior Lecturer
Faculty of Medicine, Paris 13 University

Welcome to module five,

which is about access to updates for

the management of pain and to other controlled medicines.

Last week, we had explored the consequences of prohibition

based policies massively implemented around the world in terms of health,

human rights, development, and the environment.

Here, we will focus on a particular issue which has

an important impact on the health and well-being of many people around the world.

Opioids and other controlled medicines are very efficient to treat severe pain and

other medical conditions for the development and use are hindered by legal,

moral, psychological, and educational barriers.

In lesson one, you will be given more details

about the mechanism of the international scattering of drugs.

Why it is so important for the issue raised here,

how it works, and why it is problematic.

In lesson two, you will hear about

the barriers to access opioids for the management of pain.

Different types of opioids are used to treat all kinds of serious pain conditions,

including in children, as well as, in palliative care.

The risk of becoming addicted to this medical appearance is extremely low,

and they should be easily accessible for people who need them.

But you will see that the reality is quite different.

Most people in need do not have sufficient access to medical opioids.

Hearing this, you may have in mind

the current debate on the opioid epidemic in North America.

Obviously, this tragic situation shows

that medical opioids have to be acutely prescribed,

but it is important for you to understand that the main sources of

the epidemics do not depend on the properties of the substance itself,

and that it ought not be used as an argument to further

restrict the access to medical opioids for the management of pain.

This will be explained to you in a specific video.

Cannabis and cannabinoids are another example of

scheduled and stringently controlled substances

that have interesting medical applications.

Recent research has shown the benefits of

the medical use of cannabinoids to relieve certain pain and spastic conditions,

but they are still strictly regulated in most countries,

and research on and medical use of cannabinoids remained very limited.

Today many people continued to suffer unacceptable and avoidable pain because of

the inadequacy and restrictive interpretations of the drug control framework.

At the end of this lesson,

alternative voices currently being experimented with,

and potential solutions to improve access to controlled medicines will be known to you.

The objectives of this module are for you to be able

to describe the scheduling of controlled medicines,

recognize the barriers to access to controlled medicines,

and discuss the challenges posed by prescription drugs epidemics,

examine the current issues around the medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids.

As in the previous modules,

we will offer you the possibility to go deeper in the analysis

of the presented issues by reading and watching additional resources,

and to take part in the debate through

pedagogical activities and participation in the forum.

And of course, the final queries will formally assess

your newly acquired knowledge on the issues discussed during the week.

I wish you an exciting learning experience throughout this module.

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