NUR369 Opioids misuse in Australia

The overuse of Opioids not just in Australia but all over the world is at an all-time high. People suffering with addiction often have many health problems which severely alter their mental state which ultimately increases their risk of self-harm, accidental overdose. It is an area of interest for me personally as I believe this issue is totally preventable and needs more attention to reduce these unfortunate complications.

In 2019, almost four million individuals in Australia were prescribed at least one opioid under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). Since 2016 there has been a rapid increase in prescriptions, from approximately ten to fourteen million annually. Opioid addiction can affect anyone; healthy individuals in the community who may have had a sporting accident, or injury from work needing surgery or treatment are often prescribed such heavy pain relief without the knowledge or support of how dangerous these specific drugs are and the possible complications that may occur. Once these patients are in full addiction to opioids, their mental state decreases as well as their overall health status. Statistics of prescription opioid overdose, including accidental overdose are at record high in Australia and internationally. Opioid misuse is currently having a serious effect on patients, their families and the total health department. In Australia, there Is approximately 200 hospitalisations and 22 emergency department admissions which involve opioid harm; and six people die from drug-induced deaths involving opioid use every day (Wang et al., 2020, p.997). Legal opioids are currently accountable for more deaths and poisoning hospitalisations than illegal opioids which include heroin. Oxycodone was the most frequently prescribed opioid in 2019, with 6.2 million prescriptions given to 1.8 million people, followed by codeine and tramadol (Chan et al., 2021, p1661). The rate of opioid-related deaths has increased dramatically over the past ten years. With those aged in their early to mid-life at most risk therefore represents that it is a vast cost to the Australian government (Wang et al., 2020, p.997). This cost underlines the importance of the recent investments in plans to focus on this rising issue including securing in a national overdose scheme and supervising methods (“NDRI-Media release: The cost of Opioid use to Australia: $15.7 billion and 2203 deaths, “2020). Statistics show there is a range of types of misuse of opioids ranging from people who accidentally misuse through to those who intentionally gain and misuse for recreational effects. Some patients may take prescription opioids as directed but in the setting of non-evidence-based guidance, which may result in opioid dependence. On the other end of the scale, there is a increasing number of patients who purposely abuse opioids, with reports of people injecting crushed prescription opioids (Kovitwanichkanont & Day, 2018, p.202). In action to plan to encourage suitable use of opioids, the Australian Government acknowledges that there is a vital necessity for a national guideline that unites high-quality scientific evidence to support doctors and specialists in opioid prescribing. It is known that general practitioners (GPs) are the leading prescribers of opioids in Australia, it is extremely vital that GPs have a leading role in designing this guideline to ensure its acceptability and ownership (National Drug Strategy, 2019).

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