Opioid prescribing and dispensing: examining the impact of policy on practice

Australia has seen a near doubling of opioid-related mortality in the past decade. Recently, a range of state and national policy changes have been made to address the growing number of opioid-related deaths. Understanding the trends and patterns of opioid prescribing in the community can further inform policymakers and stakeholders how to target interventions aiming to reduce opioid-related harms. This project will use data from one of two internationally unique data sets: (i) Population Level Analyses and Reporting tool (POLAR) primary care data; and (ii) Linked surgical discharge and community pharmacy opioid supply data. The research project will aim to understand the impact of new opioid policies in Australia on opioid supply in hospital and community settings, including among groups such as older adults, patients with mental illness or specific chronic pain conditions. Specific research questions can be developed based on the students interests. Location: Monash Addiction Research Centre (https://www.monash.edu/medicine/ehcs/marc/home)