Opioids remain important for severe pain, but for chronic pain, their benefits are limited and the risks—including dependence, overdose, hospitalisation and death—are well known.
GPs are encouraged to regularly review patients on long-term opioids, especially as PBS requirements now call for a second opinion if opioid therapy continues beyond 12 months.
The Routine Opioid Outcome Monitoring (ROOM) Tool is a quick and validated way to support these reviews. It helps you assess pain, function, dependence risk, mood, and other key outcomes in under five minutes. Patients can complete it in the waiting room or during the consult, and it’s been found useful and acceptable by GPs, including in rural settings.
You can download a free paper version here. Or better yet, direct patients to the Opioid Safety Toolkit—a new, interactive website funded by the Commonwealth. It includes the ROOM Tool for self-completion (complete with scoring and patient advice based on scores). The Toolkit also helps patients build a personalised safety plan to understand their risks, recognise signs of overdose, and know how to respond.
The Toolkit also educates patients about naloxone, a life-saving medicine recommended for everyone on long-term opioids. It’s now free, easy to use (as nasal spray or injection), and shown to reduce harm. Patients with chronic pain are open to receiving it when it is offered as something to keep themselves or their family safe, like a fire extinguisher that we hope they never need to use.
These resources are evidence-based, patient-approved, and designed to make your opioid reviews easier and more effective.
Download the ROOM Tool or explore the Opioid Safety Toolkit at saferopioiduse.com.au
Disclaimer: This article was provided by Monash Addiction Research Centre. While every effort has been made to ensure the information is accurate, North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network does not warrant or represent the accuracy, currency and completeness of any information or material included within.
