What are opioid drugs?
Opioids are chemical substances that have a morphine-type action in the body. They are most commonly used for pain relief, but they are addictive and can lead to drug dependence. They include:
- Drugs naturally derived from the opium poppy (known as opiates), such as
- Semi-synthetic opiates, such as
- Opioids, such as
Opioids were the principal drug of concern in 1 in 7 (14%) drug treatment episodes described in Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2010–11.
What drugs are used to treat opioid dependence?
Opioid dependence may be treated by replacing the drug of dependence with one of the following longer-acting opioids:
- methadone
- buprenorphine (Subutex)
- buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone)
These drugs, known as opioid pharmacotherapies, reduce withdrawal symptoms, the desire to take opioids, and the euphoric effect of taking opioids. Treatment with these drugs is administered according to the law of the relevant state or territory, and within a framework which includes medical, social and psychological treatment.
What is the NOPSAD collection?
The National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data (NOPSAD) collection is a set of jurisdictional data that includes information about:
- clients accessing pharmacotherapy for the treatment of opioid dependence;
- prescribers participating in the delivery of pharmacotherapy treatment, and;
- dosing sites providing pharmacotherapy drugs to clients
The most recent data from the collection are presented in the following report:
A snapshot of the number of clients receiving pharmacotherapy treatment over time is available at the following link:
Further information
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