TGA opioid RUM push

PAIN patients with unused opioids are being urged to return them to their local pharmacy, as part of a social media campaign being rolled out by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).

The social media push encourages consumers and health professionals to use the hashtags #RemoveTheRisk and #ReturnYourOpioids.

With close to 150 people hospitalised every day in Australia as a result of an adverse event related to opioid medications, the TGA has launched the campaign as part of a concerted effort to reduce risks ( PD 04 Jul).

“Australians who are prescribed painkillers and don’t use them all are advised not to keep them ‘just in case’ or for use down the track,” the TGA said.

“Keeping unused prescription pain medication in the home is dangerous for children and pets if accidently consumed, and can be a target for theft and misuse.

“Unused pain relief medication, like all medicines, can be returned to a local pharmacy for safe disposal free of charge.”

The TGA also highlighted its move to upschedule codeine from Pharmacist-Only to Prescription Only, has led to a “significant decrease in the number of products supplied to Australian patients”.

The TGA found no increase in the supply of high-strength codeine products following upscheduling and the data also suggested patients previously on OTC codeine did not switch to other opioids.