The opioid epidemic in North America has attracted considerable international concern because of the scale of the problem and the high rate of overdose deaths. This paper highlights the importance of being vigilant about the potential for similar problems in Australia, and continuing to monitor key indicators of opioid availability, use and harm.

Should doctors fear legal sanction for using opioids at the end of life? A perfect storm arises from a rare confluence of adverse meteorological factors, and is a metaphor for an especially bad situation caused by a combination of unfavourable circumstances. Health care at the end of life has been significantly disturbed by two converging...

This report assesses the burden of chronic pain in Australia, including its impact on the health system, productivity, carer costs and wellbeing.

This report discusses opportunities for policy makers to engage on harm reduction, equitable access to treatment and support, and collaboration and coordination, to stem the tide of the opioid crisis in Canada.

Opioid use and its associated harms is an issue of great public health interest, both within Australia and internationally. This report shows that opioid harms are an issue in both Australia and Canada. Rates of opioid deaths and opioid poisoning hospitalisations in Australia increased in the last ten years.