Monash Study Highlights Increased Naloxone Requests
New research from Monash University has revealed that a free, interactive online tool can significantly enhance opioid safety among Australians. The tool increases awareness and requests for naloxone, a drug that reverses opioid overdoses.
Opioids have been the primary cause of drug-induced deaths in Australia for over 20 years, with prescription opioids involved in two-thirds of these fatalities. An estimated four out of five people prescribed opioids for chronic pain have at least one overdose risk factor.
The randomised controlled trial, published in the journal Addiction, involved 314 adults in Australia who were prescribed opioids for non-cancer pain. Participants were divided to use either the Opioid Safety Toolkit or an existing government information site.
The toolkit, designed with input from consumers and healthcare professionals, provides users with tailored information about opioid risks and a personalised safety plan. It also educates them on naloxone and its accessibility.
Increased Awareness and Action
The study found that participants using the toolkit demonstrated greater knowledge of opioid overdose risks. They were more than twice as likely to request naloxone compared to the control group, with 21.7 per cent versus 9.9 per cent. 41.4 per cent intended to access naloxone as opposed to 15.4 per cent in the control group.
Only an estimated two per cent of at-risk individuals have received naloxone, highlighting the toolkit’s significant impact on awareness and action.
Professor Suzanne Nielsen, lead author and Deputy Director of the Monash Addiction Research Centre, emphasised the importance of interactive education: “People prescribed opioids are often unaware of their own risks… People who used the toolkit were far more likely to seek out naloxone and had a much better understanding of overdose risks.”
The success of the toolkit is attributed to its development process, which included people with lived experience of opioid prescriptions and healthcare professionals. This approach ensured the resource met user needs effectively.
Naloxone is available for free through Australian community pharmacies. Professor Nielsen noted the importance of pharmacies being prepared to meet naloxone demand, citing Australia’s national naloxone program.
The Opioid Safety Toolkit is available online at www.saferopioiduse.com.au.
Last updated: 15 April 2026, 11:05 am
