Early findings - PBS opioid dependence treatment
Note: The PBS and NOPSAD numbers cannot be compared. This edition of the report includes separate data analysis on the opioid dependence medicines dispensed through the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Opioid Dependence Treatment Program. The PBS data includes all patients dispensed a PBS ODT medicine at least once during each financial year from 2023–24 to 2024–25. The 2023–24 financial year was under transitional arrangements. The NOPSAD data captures all clients (including non-PBS) accessing opioid pharmacotherapy on a snapshot day.
How many patients were dispensed opioid dependence medicines through the PBS?
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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
In 2024–25, the second year that opioid dependence medicines were available through the PBS, 65,369 patients were dispensed at least one prescription for an opioid dependence medicine. This is a rate of 24 patients per 10,000 people. Across states and territories:
- New South Wales had the highest rate (30 patients per 10,000 people, or 25,057 patients), followed by the Australian Capital Territory (27 patients per 10,000 people, or 1,286 patients).
- The Northern Territory had the lowest rate of patients (7 per 10,000 people, or 187 patients) (Table PBS1).
How many opioid dependence treatment prescriptions were dispensed through the PBS?
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Around 728,400 PBS prescriptions were dispensed for opioid dependence medicines in 2024–25
In 2024–25, 728,421 PBS prescriptions were dispensed for opioid dependence medicines. This is a rate of 268 prescriptions per 10,000 people. Across states and territories:
- New South Wales had the highest rate (336 prescriptions per 10,000 people, or 284,805 prescriptions), followed by the Australian Capital Territory (296 prescriptions per 10,000 people, or 14,014 prescriptions).
- The Northern Territory had the lowest rate of prescriptions (93 prescriptions per 10,000 people, or 2,373 prescriptions) (Table PBS1).
Who was dispensed opioid dependence medicines through the PBS?
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Patients aged 40–49 were most commonly dispensed PBS opioid dependence treatment medicines
In 2024–25:
- For patients dispensed an opioid dependence medicine through the PBS:
- 1 in 3 patients (33% or 21,407 patients) were aged 40–49.
- Those aged 40–49 had the highest patient rate (62 patients per 10,000 people) followed by those aged 50–59 (44 patients per 10,000 people).
- For PBS prescriptions dispensed for opioid dependence medicines:
- 1 in 3 prescriptions (34% or 246,906 prescriptions) were for patients aged 40–49.
- Those aged 40–49 had the highest rate of prescriptions dispensed per 10,000 people (710 prescriptions per 10,000 people) followed by those aged 50–59 (530 prescriptions per 10,000 people) (Table PBS 2).
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More males than females were dispensed opioid dependence medicines through the PBS in 2025
In 2024–25:
- For patients dispensed opioid dependence medicine through the PBS:
- More than 7 in 10 patients (71% or 46,400 patients) were male.
- The rate of male patients was 2.5 times higher than females (34 per 10,000 people and 14 per 10,000, respectively).
- For PBS prescriptions dispensed for opioid dependence medicines:
- 7 in 10 prescriptions (69% or 501,406 prescriptions) were for male patients.
- The rate of prescriptions dispensed per 10,000 people for male patients was 2.2 times higher than females (371 prescriptions per 10,000 people and 166 prescriptions per 10,000 people, respectively) (Table PBS 2).