Reports reveal fall in opioids and antipsychotics dispensing

Two new reports from the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care reveal a decline in dispensing of high-risk medicines over five years but continuing variation across the country.

The Atlas Time Series Reports from 2016–17 to 2020–21 released today show trend data on opioid medicines dispensing, all ages, and antipsychotic medicines dispensing, 65 years and over.

Using PBS data*, the reports examine opioid and antipsychotic medicines dispensing across Australia at national, state and territory, Primary Health Network (PHN) and local levels.

Both reports build on findings in the Third Australian Atlas of Healthcare Variation.

Downward trend in prescribing

Dispensing rates fell nationally and in all states and territories. In the five years to 2020–21, there was an 18% reduction nationally in opioids dispensing rates and an 11% reduction in antipsychotics dispensing.

However, the reports indicate continuing variation and potential misuse of opioids and antipsychotics in some geographical areas with consistently high dispensing rates.

Find out how your area compares

Health services, PHNs, general practitioners and other clinicians can use data from the interactive reports to review rates of medicines dispensing in their local area and compare with rates for similar areas.

The reports will help identify areas that may benefit from further investigation and targeted strategies to improve appropriate prescribing of these high-risk medicines.

Please share with anyone in your network who has an interest in medicines dispensing.



For more information, visit the Healthcare Variation web page or email atlas@safetyandquality.gov.au.

Access the Atlas Time Series Reports: 2016–17 to 2020–21reports here