1045Patterns, predictors and outcomes of opioid use in Australia: evidence for an epidemic?

Abstract

\n \n \n This symposium will focus on evidence from pharmacoepidemiological research on prevalence and incidence of prescription opioid prevalence, opioid utilisation patterns and related harms in Australia. The symposium will also discuss interventions to reduce opioid-related harm. The speakers will discuss how opioid use and prescribing culture has evolved over the last two decades and provide insight from recent research using big data analysis on prescription opioid use and related outcomes.\n \n \n \n In 2016, there were 679 overdose deaths involving opioid pain medications in Australia, with the majority of these deaths unintentional. There is growing concern that harm from opioid pain medications in Australia may mimic the situation in the United States and Canada, where the problem has been labelled an epidemic.\n Recent Monash led research using Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data for 2013 to 2018 found that approximately 3 million Australians adults use opioids each year and approximately 1.9 million adults start taking opioids. Of this population of adults that start using opioids, 2.6% become long-term users for over a year. Long-term use and the use of strong opioids are associated with a range of adverse health outcomes. High-dose opioid use has also been associated with falls, fractures, hospitalisations and motor vehicle injuries.\n The rationale of this symposium is to draw on the expertise of the presenters and share innovative epidemiological and data analysis methods to understand opioid use in the Australian context. The creation of such a forum at the World Congress will allow for enhanced knowledge sharing on both a national and international platform and assist in planning strategies to better anticipate and manage potential harms when opioid pain medications are initiated.\n \n \n \n The Symposium consists of four presentations:\n \n \n \n \n \n \n Professor Danny Liew, Deputy Head of School, School of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia\n Ms. Michelle Steeper, Research Officer, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia\n