More older clients receiving pharmacotherapy treatment for opioid dependence

Australians receiving pharmacotherapy treatment for opioid dependence are getting older, according to a report released today by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). The report, National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data collection: 2011, presents information on the use of certain medications used to treat opioid dependence in Australia. The data are based on a ‘snapshot’ period—usually a day—in June 2011. On the snapshot day in 2011, there were 46,446 clients and 1,444 prescribers. ‘The proportion of clients aged 30 years and over increased from 72% in 2006 to 85% in 2011, with the median age of clients in 2011 being 38 years,’ said AIHW spokesperson Anna White.