Opioid ‘drug dependency’ on the rise, report finds

One in ten people in New Zealand are using prescription opioids after surgery even if they don't need them, a recent report by the Auckland University finds.

Opioid use on rise in NZ report says that more people use opioids such as Tramadol and Codeine after surgery, often unnecessarily.

Currently, low-level opioids are classified as Class C drugs and there are strict restrictions placed on them.

However, the law allows registered doctors to prescribe patients a one-month dose of opioids when needed.

Clinical pharmacist Hoda Fahmy who led the report says that some people are prescribed opioids when they could potentially no longer need them.

"Opioid prescribing is strict and prescribers are doing a great job, but we still need to know why it’s increasing in older adults," she said.

Patients can potentially be taken off opiods so regular assessment and extensive monitoring are important, on a case by case basis.

The increasing opioid use in older adults could be due to a number of factors.

“Hence why future research is needed to determine whether the increase in opioid dispensing in older adults is a consequence of unnecessary prescribing or reflects appropriate pain management practices.”

An increasing population of older adults could also influence this, but future research would help establish evidence-based guidelines for the use of opioids in this group.

A New Zealand academic study says that there is a risk for people to become dependent on opioids with 1 in 11 patients developing drug dependency after they have been discharged from care.

A spokesperson for the NZ Drug Foundation Emily Hughes says that while New Zealand has high restrictions for opioid use, problems persist.

“New Zealand [have] relatively comprehensive regulations around how they can be prescribed… there are still situations where unnecessary prescribing happening.”

Hughes says that opioid overdoses account for most drug overdoses and there should be a focus on getting people support to quit taking them.

“If people are struggling with opioids, they can inquire about opioid substitution treatment with their GPs, which is a great resource that people don’t realise exists.”

Listen: The Drug Foundation’s Emily Hughes explains why Aotearoa’s addiction problems don’t compare to overseas here.