Evaluation of opioid analgesic use: patterns, predictors and outcomes

This thesis examined the patterns, predictors, and outcomes related to prescription opioid use. Approximately 3 million adults use opioids and over 1.9 million adults initiate opioids in Australia each year. By extrapolation, 50,000 adults take opioids long-term and over 26,000 use high doses. At a population level, opioid initiation was not related to a change in the pattern of work disability. Complex patterns of opioid use on an individual and population level identified in this thesis suggest that large coordinated infrastructures and champions at the national, state and local levels are required to address opioid-related harm in Australia.