Pharmaceutical drug misuse: Reducing the risk of harm when
prescribing and supplying opioids upon discharge
Impacts
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Increasing trends in the misuse of prescription and over the counter drugs in Australia have
been accompanied by an escalating number of adverse outcomes.
Currently in Australia, the medicines associated with the greatest level of harm include
opioids, benzodiazepines, antipsychotics and over the counter products containing codeine.
Health risks associated with prolonged use of opioid treatment for pain include hyperalgesia,
immunosuppression, neuroendocrine dysfunction, decreased libido, erectile dysfunction,
osteoporosis, dental decay and tooth loss, bowel disorders, sedation and cognitive
impairment.
Other consequences of pharmaceutical drug misuse include overdose, death, unintentional
poisoning in children, emergency department presentations, dependence, diversion from licit
to illicit use and drug trafficking.
The cost to Australian society of alcohol, tobacco and other drug misuse in 2004-2005 was
estimated to be $56.1 billion (National Drug Strategy 2010-2015).
Risk management
The National Drug Strategy 2010-2015 seeks to address these issues through a three pillared
approach including:
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demand reduction,
supply reduction and
harm reduction.
Aligning with this strategy, this site includes tools to assist health services in addressing opioid risk
reduction at discharge:
Tools and resources:
The requirement to improve the safe and effective use of opioids aligns with the National Safety and
Quality Health Service Standards – Standard 4 (Medication Safety).
Opioid risk tool
Provides advice to prescribers considering treating patients with an opioid.
Patient information leaflet relating to analgesics supplied upon discharge:
 Example of a patient information leaflet.
Pain management plan
 Pain management plan template from NPS medicinewise.
 Example of a pain management plan.
Further reading:
 Opioids: Guidelines for prescribing on discharge, SA Health
 Reconsidering opioid therapy, Hunter Integrated Pain Service, NSW
 Pain management clinical practice guidelines, Hunter Integrated Pain Service, NSW
 A planned approach to prescribing opioids, NPS MedicineWise
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A planned approach to prescribing opioids in persistent non-cancer pain, NPS MedicineWise
Safer prescribing of opioids for persistent non-cancer pain, Australian Prescriber
Pharmaceutical drug misuse in Australia, Australian Prescriber
For further information contact:
Program Manager, Medicines in Mental Health and Wellbeing