WHILE recent research out of Monash University has declared the move to make codeine prescription-only has had no effect on the rate of prescribed opioid use, Pharmacy Guild of Australia Victorian Branch President Anthony Tassone is unequivocal that there has been a rise in opioid prescriptions.
The study by Monash Addiction Research Centre tracked opioid prescriptions across three years, two before the restriction came into force, and one year after.
The data showed that in the 12 months following the restriction, there was no increase in opioid prescriptions.
On an ABC 7.30 report, Tassone argued otherwise saying, "What we have seen, not only in my pharmacy, but pharmacies in general, is there has been an increase in PBS-subsidised codeine".
He said prescriptions were being filled at a higher dosage therefore the average dose of opioid was now much higher than prior to the restriction on codeine, whereas the move was intended to reduce opioid deaths as in the US crisis.
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