56. The system of claim 55 wherein the polymeric adhe› sive serves as the means for maintaining the system in agent and base transmitting relationship to the body service. 

57. The system of claim 53 wherein the drug reservoir is comprised of a hydrogel. 

58. The system of claim 53 wherein the drug reservoir is comprised of a sealed pouch containing the analgesic agent and inorganic base in a liquid or semi-solid formulation. 

59. The system of claim 53 wherein the analgesic agent is an acidic species. 

60. The system of claim 59 wherein the base is present in an amount that is the total of ( a) the amount required to neutralize the acidic species plus (b) an amount equal to about 0.3-7 .0 wt % of the drug reservoir. 

61. The system of claim 53 wherein the analgesic agent is a non-acidic species. 

62. The system of claim 61 wherein the base is present in an amount equal to about 0.3-7 .0 wt % of the drug reservoir. 

63. The system of claim 53 wherein the composition provides for at least about 6-fold enhanced delivery. 

64. The system of claim 53 wherein the base is selected from the group consisting of inorganic hydroxides, inorganic oxides, inorganic salts of weak acids, and combinations thereof. 

65. The system of claim 64 wherein the base is an inorganic hydroxide selected from the group consisting of ammonium hydroxide, sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide, calcium hydroxide and magnesium hydroxide. 

66. The system of claim 64 wherein the base is an inorganic oxide selected from the group consisting of mag› nesium oxide and calcium oxide. 

67. The system of claim 64 wherein the base is an inorganic salt of a weak acid selected from the group consisting of ammonium phosphate, sodium acetate, sodium borate, sodium metaborate, sodium carbonate, sodium bicar› bonate, sodium phosphate, potassium carbonate, potassium bicarbonate, potassium citrate, potassium acetate, and potas› sium phosphate. 

68. The system of claim 53 wherein the analgesic agent is selected from the group consisting of capsaicin, clonidine, tramadol, indomethacin, pharmaceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 

69. The system of claim 53 wherein the analgesic drug is a narcotic analgesic. 

70. The system of claim 69 wherein the analgesic agent is selected from the group consisting of alfentanil, buprenor› phine, butorphanol, codeine, enkephalin, fentanyl, hydroc› odone, hydromorphone, levorphanol, meperidine, metha› done, morphine, nicomorphine, opium, oxycodone, oxymorphone, pentazocine, propoxyphene, sufentanil, phar› maceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, and combina› tions thereof. 

71. The system of claim 70 wherein the analgesic agent is selected from the group consisting of buprenorphine, butor› phanol, fentanyl, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, levorpha› nol, methadone, morphine, oxycodone, oxymorphone, phar› maceutically acceptable derivatives thereof, and combinations thereof. 

72. The system of claim 53 which further comprises at least one irritation-mitigating additive. 

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