THE Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA) has launched the first "landscape survey" of hospital pharmacy practice for Australians post-surgery, as part of an effort to stem opioid misuse and abuse.
The study aims to help understand the scope of various hospital-based initiatives to reduce the risk of dependency on drugs such as fentanyl and oxycodone.
SHPA ceo Kristin Michaels said there are now 14 million scripts for opioids dispensed annually in Australia - a figure that has doubled since 2007.
She said the figures are alarming, with the survey aiming to help fully understand the problem as well as gather insights into work already under way in many pockets of the healthcare system, "so we can elevate the best solutions from the local to the national level".
Insights will inform a white paper providing a representative picture of service provision relevant to opioid management in Australian hospitals, which will in turn drive the agenda of SHPA's by-invitation leadership forum in Jul this year to build consensus around a national opioid strategy.
Michaels said hospital pharmacists are uniquely placed to shed light on how opioids are introduced to patients as part of post-operative pain management.
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