Help and support are always available, whether for yourself or a loved one. If you ever have any questions or concerns about prescription opioids, speak to your doctor, pharmacist or other trusted health care professional.

Helplines

  • In case of an emergency ring 000

    Lifeline: 13 11 14 Lifeline provide 24/7 crisis support and suicide prevention services.
  • Beyond Blue: 1300 22 4636 The Beyondblue Support Service provides advice and support via telephone 24/7, daily web chat (between 3pm–12am) and email (with a response provided within 24 hours). The website can equip you with tools and resources to support you where you live, work and play.
  • Pain Link: 1300 340 357 Australian Pain Management Association's Pain Link telephone helpline is staffed by volunteers who live (or have previously lived) with chronic pain themselves. APMA's volunteer staff are available to take calls from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours callers reach a voice-mail service and can leave a message, which will be returned within 24 hours.
  • Medicines Line: 1300 MEDICINE Medicines Line provides information for consumers on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary (herbal, ‘natural’, vitamin and mineral) medicines.

Managing Your Medication

  • MedicineWise smartphone app An effective tool to manage multiple medicines. It enables you to keep your up-to-date medicines list handy, set multiple reminders and alerts, and record key information.
  • Return Unwanted Medicines (the RUM Project) If you have any medication you no longer need, dispose of it safely. For a free and convenient option, visit your local pharmacy and ask about the RUM Project.
  • Medicines Line: 1300 MEDICINE Medicines Line provides information for consumers on prescription, over-the-counter and complementary (herbal, ‘natural’, vitamin and mineral) medicines.

Learn More About Pain Management

  • Pain Management Network Online resource to develop skills and knowledge for self-management.
  • Understanding Pain - Brainman Videos Learn more about the connection between body and brain when it comes to pain, by watching the Brainman videos. The first film “Understanding pain and what to do about it in less than five minutes” has over 500,000 views and been translated into nine different languages.
  • Tame the Beast Tame the Beast is a South Australian website which aims to help you understand your pain so that you can change the way that you respond to it.
  • Pain Link: 1300 340 357 Australian Pain Management Association's Pain Link telephone helpline is staffed by volunteers who live (or have previously lived) with chronic pain themselves. APMA's volunteer staff are available to take calls from 7am to 7pm, Monday to Friday. Outside of these hours callers reach a voice-mail service and can leave a message, which will be returned within 24 hours.

Further drug and alcohol support

  • National Alcohol and Other Drugs Hotline: 1800 250 015 Free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drugs which will automatically direct you to the Alcohol and Drug Information Service in your state or territory.
  • Alcohol and Drug Foundation: 1300 85 85 84 The Alcohol and Drug Foundation provides facts, resources and programs to prevent and minimise alcohol and other drug harm in Australian communities. It has a comprehensive list of both prescription and illegal drugs, with information about subjects such as what they look like, the short and long-term effects, withdrawals and getting help.
  • Family Drug Support Australia: 1300 368 186 The Family Drug Support organisation is a national service to help families dealing with alcohol and drugs. They provide a toll free 24-hour telephone support line as well as support groups and education programs.