Table 4 Problems for which opioids were prescribed, 2012–2016

Back complaint*

4,498

22.1 (21.3–22.8)

11,811

38.1 (36.9–39.3)

Osteoarthritis*

2,192

10.7 (10.2–11.3)

10,819

20.3 (19.3–21.2)

Pain, general/multiple sites (including ‘chronic pain’)

1,613

7.9 (7.4–8.5)

2,286

70.6 (68.5–72.7)

Prescription all*

902

4.4 (4.0–4.9)

11,527

7.8 (7.2–8.4)

Fracture*

776

3.8 (3.5–4.1)

3,723

20.8 (19.4–22.3)

Headache*

591

2.9 (2.6–3.2)

4,303

13.7 (12.5–14.9)

Back syndrome without radiating pain

419

2.1 (1.8–2.3)

1,183

35.4 (32.3–38.6)

Sprain/Strain*

414

2.0 (1.8–2.2)

4,606

9.0 (8.1–9.9)

Injury musculoskeletal NOS

365

1.8 (1.6–2.0)

3,304

11.0 (9.8–12.3)

General symptom/complaint, other

346

1.7 (1.5–1.9)

939

36.8 (33.2–40.5)

Arthritis (excluding OA and rheumatoid)*

340

1.7 (1.5–1.9)

1,999

17.0 (15.2–18.8)

Neurological disease, other

314

1.5 (1.4–1.7)

1,956

16.1 (14.3–17.8)

Rheumatoid arthritis*

269

1.3 (1.2–1.5)

1,902

14.1 (12.5–15.8)

Complication of medical treatment

261

1.3 (1.1–1.4)

1,125

23.2 (20.6–25.8)

Neck syndrome

258

1.3 (1.1–1.4)

1,248

20.7 (18.4–22.9)

Teeth/gum disease

236

1.2 (1.0–1.3)

1,375

17.2 (15.1–19.2)

Other therapeutic procedure/minor surgery NOS

234

1.1 (0.9–1.3)

350

66.9 (61.1–72.6)

Neck symptom/complaint

231

1.1 (1.0–1.3)

1,267

18.2 (15.8–20.7)

Muscle pain

216

1.1 (0.9–1.2)

1,487

14.5 (12.7–16.3)

Shoulder syndrome

209

1.0 (0.9–1.2)

2,393

8.7 (7.6–9.9)

Repair/fixate/suture/cast/ prosthetic device (apply/remove) musculoskeletal

186

0.9 (0.8–1.0)

576

32.3 (28.4–36.1)

Herpes zoster

144

0.7 (0.6–0.8)

926

15.6 (13.2–17.9)

Malignant Neoplasm

729

3.6 (3.3–3.9)

10,641

6.9 (6.3–7.4)

Non-malignant neoplasm chronic problem

9,311

45.7 (44.7–46.6)

207,975

4.5 (4.3–4.6)

Total

20,393

100.0

623,664

3.3 (3.2–3.4)