JUNE 2018| The Australian Women’s Weekly 111
Investigation
that will relieve pressure on the
hospitals, and therefore costs”.
Yet drug monitoring programs
cover only part of the problem.
Dr Wilson, who has worked with
coronial authorities, says she is
increasingly seeing accidental opioid
overdoses in mums and dads who’ve
either mixed their prescription drugs,
taken the pills for longer than advised,
or consumed alcohol while on the
medication.“We all have this image of
‘doctor shoppers’ but in most cases,
people are taking their medication as
directed, and these drugs can still
cause overdose that leads to
respiratory arrest and death,” she
says. Indeed, indings from the
Coroners Court of Victoria show that
in seven out of 10 pharmaceutical
drug overdose deaths the deceased
had been to see only one GP.
Meanwhile, citing the increasing
incidence of over-the-counter codeine
dependency, the Therapeutic Goods
Administration (TGA) ruled that, from
February this year, pharmaceuticals
containing codeine would be available
only on prescription. And in March,
the Australian and New Zealand
College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA)
and its Faculty of Pain
Medicine called on
34 leading medical
colleges and
associations, including
the Royal Australian
College of General
Practitioners and the
Royal Australasian
College of Physicians,
to review their
approach to pain
management.
“The community is being looded
with prescription opioids,” ANZCA
President Professor David A. Scott
tellsThe Weekly. He believes that
rather than hand out painkillers,
“doctors need to take a multi-
disciplinary approach to pain
management, which could include
physical therapy, exercise, behavioural
or psychological counselling”.
As in the United States, Australia
provides the ideal environment for
excessive opioid prescribing. For one,
we have a consumerist culture which
demands a quick ix from our doctors.
Second, general practitioners are
encouraged to run short, sharp
medical consultations.“GPs are not incentivised to
spend time with patients looking
for alternatives,” admits Dr Wilson.
“Accessing counselling, getting
patients to do more physical activity,
attend hydrotherapy or acupuncture,
or see a physiotherapist – particularly
in rural areas – is much harder
and more expensive. And the
Pharmaceutical Beneits Scheme gives us
a great rate on medications.” In January,
the TGA announced it was considering
barring GPs from prescribing stronger
opiates, leaving that job to specialists.
The other problem is the hospital
system, where patients are regularly
discharged with more opioids than
they are likely to need. “Long-term
opioid use often begins
with treatment of acute
pain,” says Professor Scott.
“Many patients prescribed
an opioid for pain
management will still be
taking an opioid one or
two years after discharge.”
He says that it is the
responsibility of doctors
to give patients a strict time
frame for use and an
appropriate weaning
schedule. “If we have
a role in starting this
problem, we have to take a
role in stopping it,” he says.
Mum-of-two Jessica
Khachan believes that
without her family’s
support and intervention, she would
not be here today.
“There’s a lot of shame and fear
and a lot of people get embarrassed
about substance abuse issues,” admits
Jess. “I remember I felt like I was the
only one going through this. I felt
like I couldn’t tell anyone what was
going on. I was really scared to even
mention it to my doctor.”
The message brave women like
Rustie, Jessica and Rayleen want to get
out is if you believe you have an opioid
addiction, help and support exist.
“You are not alone,” says Jessica.
“Many, many people have gone
through this. There are recovery
services and there is help out there.
You don’t need to feel ashamed.”AW WGET HELP
If you’re worried you
may have an addiction
to prescription drugs, see
your GP as soon as
possible. If you have
supportive friends and
family talk to them too.
Families affected by
drug problems can call
Family Drug Support
Australia on 1300 368
186, or visit The Alcohol
and Drug Foundation
website at adf.org.au.HOW TORustie (left) was
prescribed opiods
at 16. Rayleen
(right) lost sister
Anne to codeine.