addiction
5 drug-seeking behaviours
What are the most common behaviours in people with dependencies? The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) and Australian Prescriber have together provided advice on how to recognise and …
Poll results: pharmacy supports MedsASSIST
The AJP’s poll on codeine monitoring tool MedsASSIST have shown that Australian pharmacy strongly supports the program. Last week we asked, “Is your pharmacy using MedsASSIST?” after posters in our …
Why I’m losing codeine sales
If you’re not using MedsASSIST, you’re helping neither patients nor pharmacy, writes Samantha Kourtis Since MedsASSIST was rolled out and I decided to use it in my pharmacy, I’ve experienced …
Guild responds to opioids feature
Pharmacy Guild executive director has written to the editor of The Good Weekend to congratulate the magazine on its article, The Pain Killers. The feature article, by Stephanie Wood, told …
Poll: Is your pharmacy using MedsASSIST?
Is your pharmacy using MedsASSIST? With the TGA yet to make its final decision on codeine – which its website says will be made after this month – some codeine-containing …
Call for GPs to develop practice policies on drugs of dependence
An expert is calling for all GPs to develop practice policies that clearly state their approach to prescribing drugs of dependence. “All general practices should have a practice policy on …
Harm minimisation efforts pay big dividends
It’s time for pharmacists to speak up about the benefits of harm minimisation, writes Angelo Pricolo Many issues were discussed at the 2 March 2016 Drug Summit organised by the …
Real time monitoring best chance to curb codeine misuse
ASMI and the Pharmacy Guild say real-time monitoring of OTC codeine containing analgesics, in addition to a range of other targeted measures including mandatory warning statements, reducing pack sizes and …
Schedule changes didn’t dent codeine misuse
Changes made to OTC codeine combination products in 2010 failed to make a dent in the growing misuse of the products, a new study has found. But the new codeine …
Pain not being managed with scattergun approach
Prescribers are handing out ‘Endone like lollies’ but pain management remains inadequate, says a pain expert—but pharmacy can help Queensland pharmacist Karalyn Huxhagen, winner of the 2015 PSA Award for …
Opioid misuse: ‘Endone has become the new Panadol.’
In hospitals Endone has become the new Panadol and Australia is going down the same path as the United States when it comes to opioids, say doctors. The doctors were …
Not everyone who takes painkillers for fun is an addict; some have just found a different way to cope
Not everyone who takes painkillers for fun is an addict; some have just found a different way to cope Stephen Tomsen, Western Sydney University and Kev Dertadian, UNSW Australia The …