Now a complex problem globally, FPM specialists help you recognise high-dose use and manage risk factors for addiction.
Learning objectives
On completing this activity, participants should be able to:
- Understand what constitutes problematic high-dose opioid use.
- Describe the features and importance of ‘aberrant behaviour’ in patients on high dose opioid therapy.
- Understand how to use universal precautions in pain management.
- Assess and manage risk factors for addiction.
- Explain the concept of morphine equivalencies and their use in standardising opioid doses.
- Diagnose opioid use disorder in patients on high dose opioid therapy.
- Demonstrate skills for managing problematic high-dose opioid use.
Content authors
Dr Matthew Frei MBBS, FAChAM
Clinical Director, Turning Point Treatment Services, Eastern Health, Vic.
Jacqueline Hunt, BNurs, MScMed (Pain Mgt)
Clinical Nurse Consultant, Barwon Health Pain Management Unit, University Hospital Geelong, Vic.
Member of the Australian Pain Society.
Dr Diarmuid McCoy, MB BCh BAO (NUI), FFARCSI, FFPMANZCA, FANZCA, FFPMCAI
Specialist Pain Medicine Physician.
The Geelong Hospital Barwon Health.
Pain Matrix HealthScope Geelong Private Hospital, Vic.
Dr Bridin Murnion, FRACP, FFPMANZCA, FAChAM
Head of Department, Drug Health Services, Concord Repatriation General Hospital.
Senior Staff Specialist, Drug Health Services, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW.
Clinical Senior Lecturer, Discipline of Addiction Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney, NSW.
Contributing experts
Dr Milana Votrubec MB BS MA MM ME USyd FRACGP FFPMANZCA
General Practitioner and Pain Management Consultant, Sydney.
Senior Clinical Tutor, Universities of Sydney and Notre Dame.
GP Editor of the publication Pain Management Today.
Dr Aston Wan MBBCh, MA, GDMM, MClEpid, MPainMed, MHeadacheMed, PCertMedEd, AFRACMA, FFPMANZCA
Director and Specialist Pain Physician.
Senior Lecturer, University of Queensland.
Persistent Pain Service, Division of Rehabilitation.
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Qld.
Medical writer
Karyn Weitzner, PhD
