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COVID-19 restrictions and the incidence and prevalence of prescription opioid use in Australia -- a nation-wide study
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  • Monica Jung,
  • Dickson Lukose,
  • Suzanne Nielsen,
  • Simon Bell,
  • Geoff Webb,
  • Jenni Ilomaki
Monica Jung
Monash University Faculty of Medicine Nursing and Health Sciences

Corresponding Author:monica.jung@monash.edu

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Dickson Lukose
Monash University
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Suzanne Nielsen
Monash University
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Simon Bell
Monash University
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Geoff Webb
Monash University
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Jenni Ilomaki
Monash University
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Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted seeking and delivery of healthcare. Different Australian jurisdictions implemented different COVID-19 restrictions. We used Australian national pharmacy dispensing data to conduct interrupted time series analyses to examine the incidence and prevalence of opioid dispensing in different jurisdictions. Following nationwide COVID-19 restrictions, the opioid incidence dropped by -0.40 [-0.50, -0.31], -0.33 [-0.46, -0.21] and -0.21 [-0.37, -0.04] /1000 people/week and prevalence dropped by -0.85 [-1.39, -0.31], -0.54 [-1.01, -0.07] and -0.62 [-0.99, -0.25] /1000 people/week in Victoria, New South Wales and other jurisdictions, respectively. Incidence and prevalence increased by 0.29 [0.13, 0.44] and 0.72 [0.11, 1.33] /1000 people/week, respectively in Victoria post-lockdown; no significant changes were observed in other jurisdictions. No significant changes were observed in the initiation of long-term opioid use in any jurisdictions. More stringent restrictions coincided with more pronounced reductions in overall opioid initiation, but initiation of long-term opioid use did not change.
01 Jul 2022Submitted to British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology
04 Jul 2022Submission Checks Completed
04 Jul 2022Assigned to Editor
17 Jul 2022Reviewer(s) Assigned
16 Sep 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 Sep 2022Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
11 Oct 20221st Revision Received
11 Oct 2022Submission Checks Completed
11 Oct 2022Assigned to Editor
11 Oct 2022Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
20 Oct 2022Editorial Decision: Accept
27 Oct 2022Published in British Journal of Clinical Pharmacology. 10.1111/bcp.15577