NMS 2023 – Lightning talks: Opioid Stewardship in Australia

Opioid analgesics are high-risk medicines, widely used in hospitals and primary care to manage pain. In April 2020, the TGA engaged the Commission to develop a framework for a National Opioid Analgesic Stewardship program, and an accompanying clinical care standard, which together support the opioid analgesic regulatory changes. The aim of the TGA regulatory changes, the National Opioid Analgesics Stewardship program and the accompanying clinical care standard is to minimise the risk of harm associated with opioid analgesic use.

The lightning talks at NMS 2023 will showcase opioid stewardship in Australia including the Commissions work on opioid analgesic stewardship and research and findings related to the safe and appropriate use of post-surgical opioids, reducing unwarranted variation in opioid dispensing/prescribing, opioid deprescribing guidelines, and how quality use of opioids can contribute to sustainability and reduce carbon footprint of medicines and healthcare.

The lightning talks are relevant for health policy and decision makers, health professionals, academics, and researchers.

1. A practical guide: Using the Atlas of Healthcare Variation to identify variation in opioid medicines dispensing in your local area.
Myu Arumuganathan, Data Reporting Strategy Manager, Healthcare Variation, ACSQHC

2. Opioid analgesic stewardship in Acute Pain Clinical Care Standard
Steve Waller, Senior Project Officer, Medication without harm, ACSQHC

3. Perioperative opioid stewardship programs and post-surgical discharge opioid prescribing
Dr Megan Allen, Anaesthetist, Royal Melbourne Hospital and The University of Melbourne

4. Opioid type and persistent postoperative opioid use
Evan Michell, St Vincent’s Clinical School, UNSW Medicine

5. Evidence based clinical practice guidelines for deprescribing opioids
Dr Aili Langford, Research Fellow, Centre for Medicine Use and Safety, Faculty of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Monash University

6. Pre-transplant opioid use and lung transplant outcomes
Dr Christian Haron, The School of Medicine Sydney, The University of Notre Dame Australia and St. Vincent’s Hospital, Sydney.

00:00:05 - A practical guide: Using the Atlas of Healthcare Variation to identify variation in opioid medicines dispensing in your local area
00:04:08 - Opioid analgesic stewardship in Acute Pain Clinical Care Standard
00:08:35 - Perioperative opioid stewardship programs and post-surgical discharge opioid prescribing
00:14:25 - Opioid type and persistent postoperative opioid use
00:19:31 - Evidence based clinical practice guidelines for deprescribing opioids
00:24:25 - Pre-transplant opioid use and lung transplant outcomes