Are we missing the real opioid drug crisis?

While the US suffers an overdose epidemic, much of the rest of the world misses out on vital painkillers.

90% of all the morphine on the planet is consumed by the world's richest 10%, according to a commission set up by medical journal The Lancet – so what's behind the global pain divide?

You can listen to The Inquiry: Are We Missing a Bigger Opioid Crisis? on the BBC World Service, or download the programme podcast, to find out more.

1 February 2018

A man in a blue shirt spreads his hands out infront of him

Dr Xand: 'Don't buy branded cold and flu remedies'

Health

Three-year-old Oliver is 'wonderful' after world-first gene therapy

Toddler Oliver and his dad Ricky join Jon and Sally on the Breakfast sofa, to discuss his progress after his ground-breaking gene therapy.

Health

A woman plays the clarinet while undergoing brain surgery

Woman with Parkinson's plays clarinet during brain surgery

Denise Bacon, 65, underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) as Parkinson's Disease has affected her ability to walk, swim, dance and play her instrument.

Health

'Asbestos cancer robbed my father from our family'

Health

'Cancer weight gain led to my eating disorder'

Health

A woman pulling hair out of a hair brush

Watch: Are weight-loss jabs worth the side effects?

Rebecca ordered the jab online, but now says she is considering not using it after losing some of her hair.

Health

Erin Lavery sits in a room with grass seen through the window, she wears a grey top and pink cardigan and has short hair

I built an online community after my Hodgkin's lymphoma diagnosis

Health

Isabel Quiroga wearing a brown coat and Richard Smith wearing a suit smile at the camera

Surgeons on 'magical moment' womb transplant child was born

Two doctors describe their reaction after seeing the first child in the UK to be born to a mother using a donated womb.

Health

Grace (left) and Angus (centre) are now parents to a baby girl, after Amy (right) donated her womb to her younger sister

Watch: 'Miracle' baby is first to be born in UK to woman with transplanted womb

Baby Amy's mother on the ''act of sisterly love'' that made her pregnancy possible.

Health

A woman sits with her husband at table as they watch a video on a laptop.

Moment BBC programme sparks memory of man with dementia

The use pictures or music to evoke a response in people living with dementia can help start a conversation with loved ones and carers.

Health

Clive Myrie at a hospital corridor with a bed on the background

Watch: Clive Myrie finds corridors filled with patients at London hospital

Clive Myrie spends a day inside the Royal Free Hospital to see how the NHS is coping after intense, annual winter pressures.

Health

A woman in a hospital bed being tended to by nurses

BBC goes inside Royal Free Hospital at full capacity

One patient waits 24 hours for a bed in the emergency department.

Health

Twelve-year-old BBC Young Reporter winner Alice, wearing an orange football kit with her team in the distance behind her

Managing ADHD when access to medication is restricted

Twelve-year-old Alice discovered a love for football during a medication shortage.

Health

RFK Jr speaks into a microphone while raising his left hand and pointing his index finger toward the senate committee

Protesters, McDonald's and onesies - RFK Jr's confirmation hearing

A number of senators grilled the controversial nominee over his views on vaccines and abortion.

Health

Older man sitting in an armchair wearing glasses and a white T-shirt. The chair is cream in colour and his glasses are black-framed.

'I want to be cared for in my own home'

Michael Stevenson is staying in a nursing home while attempts are made to find him a care package.

Health

Chris Hoy says men should talk about health issues more

Six-time Olympic cycling champion Chris Hoy calls for more openness on health matters

Health

A woman in a hospital gown grins on the left and a monitor lit up with lungs is on the right of a split screen.

Woman gets first double lung transplant done by robot

The surgical feat was performed on a New York medic who says she got her 'life back' because of the procedure.

Health

Heston Blumenthal wearing a blue shirt and black frame glasses

'It's not all doom' - Heston Blumenthal on bipolar diagnosis

The celebrity chef announced he was diagnosed with the mental health condition earlier this year.

Health

'We can't give up hope for our wee boy'

The parents of a toddler waiting for a liver and bowel transplant are pleading with parents to have the conversation about what they would do in the same situation.

Health

Louis, William, Kate, Charlotte and George

Kate releases message after completing chemo treatment

The Princess of Wales has said her focus for now was to remain "cancer free".

Health