Media releases
December saw the release of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s Third Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation which detailed the rising use of opioids in Australia.
The report had widespread media coverage, which Painaustralia took an active part in to highlight the need for more holisitic pain management options, training and consumer awareness of pain and ways to address it.
December also saw the launch of a new video featuring Invictus Gold Medallist and Painaustralia Champion, Peter Rudland. Watch this inspiring video to learn more about his raw and honest experience of living with chronic pain and protecting his mental health.
In the media
Scripts for codeine drugs soared after it was made prescription only
News Limited ran a story in late December on the rise in codeine scripts following up scheduling to prescription only.
Painaustralia CEO, Carol Bennett was quoted saying “I don’t think doctors have a lot of good options or alternatives and what we understand in the community is that when you are in pain you are medicated,” she said.
Note: This article saw national media coverage, with Painaustralia featuring on Triple M, 2GB, 3AW, ABC Melbourne and 2SM.
This article may be behind a paywall for some users.
Opioids only help a little when it comes to chronic pain: Study
Aged Care journal, Starts at 60, featured a story titled ‘Opioids only help a little when it comes to chronic pain: Study’
The journal reported:
“While opioids are prescribed to many patients to help manage chronic pain, a new study claims the powerful medication may not help as much as originally thought.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Medical Association by McMaster University researchers, found opioids may only help slightly when it comes to treating non-cancer pain. Researchers reviewed 96 clinical trials of more than 26,000 people and found sleep quality, physical functioning and pain only improved slightly for those taking opioids when taking compared to a placebo…
Pain Australia CEO Carol Bennett told Starts at 60 the findings confirm that long-term use of opioids for chronic non-cancer pain is really not that useful and can actually be harmful – particularly for older people.”