Choosing Wisely recommendations for opioids

Opioid stewardship in hospitals

Consumer resources for opioids

Opioid resources and activities in primary care

Choosing Opioids Wisely

Choosing Wisely is improving the prescribing and use of opioids across different healthcare settings. We have developed a suite of resources for consumers and health professionals to support the safe and appropriate use of opioids.

Champion Health Services are putting Choosing Wisely recommendations into practice and we also have educational programs for primary care.

Read about how we are 'Choosing Opioids Wisely' and get involved in the conversation to reduce unnecessary treatments.

Click here to find out more about joining Choosing Wisely as a Champion Health Service.

Hospitals

Consumer resources

Primary care

Recommendations for opioids

Opioid stewardship in hospitals

A Choosing Wisely approach to improve opioid prescribing

Opioid Wisely: reducing over-supply of opioids at hospital discharge

Lightning talk: Opioid prescribing in Sunshine Coast University Hospital Emergency Department

Lightning talk: What proportion of patients with chronic non-cancer pain are prescribed an opioid analgesic?

Webinar: "Opioid Wisely: Impact of policy interventions on oxycodone prescribing"

Opioid resources and activities in primary care

NPS MedicineWise program

Program: Opioids, chronic pain and the bigger picture

The educational visiting program from NPS MedicineWise provides clarity on the role of opioids when supporting patients with chronic non-cancer pain. It covers the latest evidence on the management of chronic pain, offers advice on engaging patients to take an active role in managing their pain and resources to support patients tapering their opioid medication.

Continuing professional development

• Clinical case study for GPs and Pharmacists - Chronic pain: Supporting patients to taper opioids

• Webinar for GPs - Opioid prescribing: strategies for GPs to optimise chronic non-cancer pain management and minimise harms

• Webinar for Pharmacists - Supporting patients living with chronic non-cancer pain – the role of the pharmacist

• Webinar for Dentists - Prescribing for dental pain: What are the options?

Videos for primary care

• Video 1: How to have effective conversations with patients about opioids and chronic non-cancer pain

• Video 2: Effective conversations when initiating opioid treatment for a patient with chronic non-cancer pain

• Video 3: Effective conversations about tapering opioids

• Video 4: Effective conversations about psychology referral, opioids and chronic non-cancer pain

Podcast: Opioids special #1 - Tapering opioids in partnership with patients with chronic non-cancer pain

Podcast: Opioids special #2 - Non-pharmacological management options for chronic non-cancer pain

Podcast: Opioids special #3 - Tolerance, dependence and overdose

Choosing Wisely consumer resources

• Patient guide to managing pain and opioid medicines

• 5 Questions to ask about using opioids for back pain or osteoarthritis

• Managing Pain and Opioid Medicines for Children and Young People

• Managing your acute pain

• Easy-to-read consumer information about opioids

• Opioid medicines and chronic non-cancer pain

Living with pain: Consumers and health professionals talk about their experience with chronic non-cancer pain and opioids

• Video 1: Living with chronic non-cancer pain

• Video 2: Individual approaches to pain management

• Video 3: Experience with opioids and chronic non-cancer pain

• Video 4: Accessing healthcare and support resources

• Video 5: Non-opioid options for chronic non-cancer pain

• Video 6: Opioids and chronic non-cancer pain

• Video 7: Working together to help manage chronic pain

Videos

• Information about opioids and chronic non-cancer pain

• Empowering conversations about opioids

• Opioid medicines in pain management: New online hub guides smart, safe decisions

Choosing Wisely recommendations on opioids

Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists

• 01 Oct 2016

  Don’t use opioids for the treatment of migraine, except in rare circumstances.

The Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia

• 24 Jan 2020

  Don't recommend the use of medicines with sub-therapeutic doses of codeine (<30mg for adults) for mild to moderate pain.

Faculty of Pain Medicine

• 24 Jan 2020

  Avoid prescribing opioids (particularly long-acting opioids) as first-line or monotherapy for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP).

• 24 Jan 2020

  Do not continue opioid prescription for chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP) without ongoing demonstration of functional benefit, periodic attempts at dose reduction and screening for long-term harms.

Australasian Faculty of Occupational and Environmental Medicine

• 25 Sept 2017

  Do not prescribe opioids for the treatment of acute or chronic pain without assessing the patient’s clinical condition, potential side effects, alternative analgesic options, work status, and capacity to perform safety-critical activities such as driving.