In response to concerns about prescription opioid overuse and related harms, a series of interventions to control their supply have been undertaken in Australia. In the analysis reported in this issue of the MJA,1 Koch and colleagues examined the impact of recent Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) changes, including halving pack sizes for immediate release opioids, typically used for treating acute pain; limiting repeat opioid prescriptions; and subsidising only smaller pack sizes of immediate release opioids. The authors found that in the year following these changes the reduction in opioid prescribing was greater than expected based on prior trends alone. They also found some evidence for a shift from PBS‐subsidised to private opioid prescriptions, which may explain some reductions in the dispensing of opioids, but not in overall supply.1
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- 1. Koch FC, Olivier J, Brett J, et al. The impact of new prescribing restrictions for PBS‐subsidised opioid medications and the introduction of half‐pack sizes, Australia, 2020–21: interrupted time series analysis. Med J Aust 2024; 220: 315‐322.
- 2. Dobbin M, Nielsen S, Schumann JL. Commentary on McCoy et al.: More pieces of the mosaic describing outcomes of the Australian up‐scheduling of over‐the‐counter codeine to prescription only. Addiction 2022; 117: 687‐689.
- 3. Lam T, Kuhn L, Hayman J, et al. Recent trends in heroin and pharmaceutical opioid‐related harms in Victoria, Australia up to 2018. Addiction 2020; 115: 261‐269.
- 4. Jauncey M, Livingston M, Salmon AM, Dietze P. The impact of OxyContin reformulation at the Sydney Medically Supervised Injecting Centre: pros and cons. Int J Drug Policy 2018; 53: 17‐22.
- 5. Powell D, Pacula RL. The evolving consequences of oxycontin reformulation on drug overdoses. Am J Health Econ 2021; 7: 41‐67.
- 6. Nielsen S, Picco L, Russell G, et al. Changes in opioid and other analgesic prescribing following voluntary and mandatory prescription drug monitoring program implementation: a time series analysis of early outcomes. Int J Drug Policy 2023; 117: 104053.
- 7. Busingye D, Daniels B, Brett J, et al. Patterns of real‐world opioid prescribing in Australian general practice (2013–18). Aust J Prim Health 2021; 27: 416‐424.
- 8. Lam T, Xia T, Biggs N, et al. Effect of discharge opioid on persistent postoperative opioid use: a retrospective cohort study comparing tapentadol with oxycodone. Anaesthesia 2023; 78: 420‐431.
- 9. Haines S, Savic M, Carter A. Healthcare providers beliefs about the meanings and impacts of prescription drug monitoring program alerts. Addict Res Theory 2023; https://doi.org/10.1080/16066359.2023.2271833
- 10. Haines S, Savic M, Nielsen S, Carter A. Opioid‐related policy changes: experiences and perspectives from people who use opioids to manage non‐cancer chronic pain. Drug Alcohol Rev 2023; 42: 1482‐1492.
- 11. Chrzanowska A, Man N, Sutherland R, et al. Trends in overdose and other drug‐induced deaths in Australia, 2002–2021 [Drug Trends Bulletin Series]. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney, 2023. Here: Overdose deaths involving opioids, by exclusive opioid type, age and intent. https://drugtrends.shinyapps.io/deaths_2021 (viewed Nov 2023).
No relevant disclosures.