DESPITE the evidence supporting the use of opioid agonists such as methadone and buprenorphine to combat opioid dependence, the uptake is hindered by barriers, says Monash Addiction Research Centre A/Prof Suzanne Nielsen.
Last year, 1,123 people died from opioids, namely illicit drugs such as heroin, and pain relievers such as codeine, oxycodone and morphine.
Nielsen identifies four barriers to their use:
Cost - weekly average cost of scripts at pharmacy can add up to $35-$70 just based on dispensing fees.
Stigma - is still associated with their use.
Restrictiveness - there is still the need to attend a pharmacy daily for the therapy.
Access limitations - especially in rural and regional centres.
CLICK HERE for her summary.
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