'We're the ones creating problems for GPs': Hospital acts on addictive drug

By Esther Han
Updated September 3 2017 - 9:43am, first published August 15 2017 - 4:09pm
(left to right) Anesthetist Dr Jenny Stevens and Neurosurgery registrar Dr Ron Murambi.
Story details: In a battle to cut the number of people addicted to opioids, St Vincents Hospital has introduced a new program to teach junior doctors how to safely prescribe opioids to patients. Monday 14th August 2017 SMH photo Louie Douvis .
(left to right) Anesthetist Dr Jenny Stevens and Neurosurgery registrar Dr Ron Murambi. Story details: In a battle to cut the number of people addicted to opioids, St Vincents Hospital has introduced a new program to teach junior doctors how to safely prescribe opioids to patients. Monday 14th August 2017 SMH photo Louie Douvis .

When the pharmacy at St Vincent's Hospital alerted pain specialist Dr Jennifer Stevens to the "steep" year-on-year increases in the amount of opioid-based painkillers being prescribed to patients on discharge, she knew something had to change.

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