Insights
Clients receiving opioid pharmacotherapy
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The number of clients receiving opioid pharmacotherapy treatment increased by 24% between 2011 (46,400 clients) and 2025 (57,700)
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The median age of opioid pharmacotherapy clients was 46 years in 2025, up from 38 years in 2011
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In 2025, younger clients aged in their 30s and under were more likely to receive a buprenorphine formulation compared to older clients aged 50 and over where methadone is more common
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More males than females received opioid pharmacotherapy treatment in 2025
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2 in 5 First Nations clients receiving opioid pharmacotherapy received buprenorphine long-acting injection as opioid pharmacotherapy treatment in 2025
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In 2025, more clients received a buprenorphine formulation than methadone as treatment
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3 in 5
opioid pharmacotherapy clients were continuing treatment in 2025
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Heroin was reported as the most common opioid drug of dependence for pharmacotherapy clients in 2025
Opioid pharmacotherapy prescribers
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2 in 3 prescribers were authorised to prescribe more than one type of opioid pharmacotherapy drug in 2025
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3 in 4 pharmacotherapy prescribers worked in the private sector in 2025
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On a snapshot day in 2025, each prescriber treated an average of 17 opioid pharmacotherapy clients
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While methadone was the most common pharmacotherapy treatment across all prescriber types, private prescriber clients were most likely to receive methadone and correctional clients most likely to receive buprenorphine long-acting injection in 2025
Sites where opioid pharmacotherapies are provided
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In 2025, 3 in 4 opioid pharmacotherapy dosing sites were located in pharmacies
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Between 2023–24 and 2024–25, the number of dosing point sites decreased by 8%, from 3,530 to 3,241
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Half of opioid pharmacotherapy clients received treatment at a pharmacy in 2025
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In 2025, there was a wide variation of pharmacotherapy dosing site types which reflect the service needs of people in the community, health and judicial systems.
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Across jurisdictions with available data, 3 in 5 opioid pharmacotherapy dosing point sites were located in Major cities in 2025
Opioid dependence treatment medicines dispensed
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Around 65,400 patients were dispensed at least one Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) prescription of an opioid dependence medicine in 2024–25
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Around 728,400 PBS prescriptions were dispensed for opioid dependence medicines in 2024–25
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Patients aged 40–49 were most commonly dispensed PBS opioid dependence treatment medicines
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More males than females were dispensed opioid dependence medicines through the PBS in 2025