Pharmaceutical opioid use and harm in Australia: The need for proactive and preventative responses

Briony Larance; Louisa Degenhardt; Amy Peacock; Natasa Gisev; Richard Mattick; Samantha Colledge; Gabrielle Campbell

doi:10.1111/dar.12617

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Pharmaceutical opioid use and harm in Australia: The need for proactive and preventative responses

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Pharmaceutical opioid use and harm in Australia: The need for proactive and preventative responses

Briony Larance, Louisa Degenhardt, Amy Peacock, Natasa Gisev, Richard Mattick, Samantha Colledge and Gabrielle Campbell

Drug and Alcohol Review, Vol.37 (S1), pp.S203-S205

2018

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.12617

PMID: 29024092

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Abstract

pharmaceutical opioid

opioid overdose

opioid mortality

opioid utilisation

There are parallels between the North American experience of escalating pharmaceutical opioid utilisation and harm and the trends being observed in Australia. In Australia, opioid utilisation has increased dramatically over the past two decades. There have been significant shifts away from the predominant prescribing of 'weak' and short-acting opioids, to 'strong' and long-acting opioids, for an increasing range of chronic pain indications. In concordance with escalating use, Australia is experiencing increases in opioid-related hospital admissions and overdose, as well as opioid dependence and treatment seeking. Despite increasing concern regarding pharmaceutical opioid use and harms in Australia, responses have been limited. There have been no recent changes in regulatory systems for prescription-only pharmaceutical opioids, opioid prescribing guidelines, limits on doctors' prescribing, monitoring of patient or doctor access to opioids, or in access to medicines via public subsidy. Potentially abuse-deterrent opioid formulations have entered the Australian market, with studies suggesting that these formulations are less likely to be tampered with by people who inject drugs; but to date, there have been limited impacts on opioid utilisation and harm. Additional strategies may include enhancing access to effective approaches to pain management and opioid dependence, and scaling-up naloxone provision. There is a unique opportunity for a proactive and preventative response to pharmaceutical opioids in Australia, to avoid experiencing the scale of problems seen elsewhere.

Details

Title: Pharmaceutical opioid use and harm in Australia: The need for proactive and preventative responses
Authors: Briony Larance (Corresponding Author) - UNSW Australia
Louisa Degenhardt (Author) - UNSW Australia
Amy Peacock (Author) - UNSW Australia
Natasa Gisev (Author) - UNSW Australia
Richard Mattick (Author) - UNSW Australia
Samantha Colledge (Author) - UNSW Australia
Gabrielle Campbell (Author) - UNSW Australia
Publication details: Drug and Alcohol Review, Vol.37 (S1), pp.S203-S205
Publisher: Wiley-Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
DOI: 10.1111/dar.12617
ISSN: 1465-3362
PMID: 29024092
Organisation Unit: School of Health and Behavioural Sciences - Legacy; School of Health and Sport Sciences - Legacy; University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99472501102621
Output Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Web Of Science research areas: Substance Abuse

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