Painaustralia is Australia’s leading pain advocacy body working to improve the quality of life of people living with pain, their families and carers, and to minimise the social and economic burden of pain on individuals and the community.
Launch of the Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group
The Governor General, His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Retd), formally launched Painaustralia's Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management Group, and welcomed Tara Moss as the newest Pain Champion at an event held on Tuesday 6 October.
Media Releases
Over-the-counter medicinal cannabis a step toward better pain management
16 DECEMBER 2020
Painaustralia has welcomed the announcement by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) to down-schedule cannabidiol (CBD) and enable the availability of low-dose CBD over-the-counter (OTC) in pharmacies.
CEO of Painaustralia, Carol Bennett, said changes that provide more accessible and affordable pain management options are necessary. “While the number of people living with pain in Australia rises, there will still be significant gaps in access to, and understanding of, best practice holistic pain management. With the recent restrictions applied to opioids in Australia making pharmacological pain treatments less accessible, the schedule 3 listing of CBD and ready availability in pharmacies will add another drug to the list of available treatments. The major missing piece of the puzzle remains access to effective multidisciplinary treatment, but this move to make low dose medicinal cannabis available over the counter is a welcome increase in options available to people experiencing pain.”
The majority of people who seek medicinal cannabis do so for pain management, and there is growing interest and expectation around the use of these products to treat a range of conditions.
Chronic pain can be debilitating and have adverse effects on work, sleep and relationships. People with chronic pain also commonly experience comorbidities such as depression, sleep disturbance and fatigue. The most effective treatments tend to involve multi-disciplinary care.
“Painaustralia supports current efforts to enable quicker access to medicinal cannabis where it has been correctly prescribed,” said Ms Bennett.
Painaustralia is advocating for the adoption of the National Action Plan for pain management (currently with State and Territory health ministers for endorsement) to ensure a national and holistic policy framework that supports consumers, health professionals and the wider community.
Chair of Painaustralia’s Consumer Advisory Group, Sr Mary-Lynne Cochrane, said that low-dose CBD provides another option for the pain toolkit: “When it comes to chronic pain, there is a need to expand availability of safe and effective treatments as current treatments are not adequate. It won’t be a silver bullet or suitable for all people experiencing chronic pain, but it does expand the range of options that might work for some people,” Sr Cochrane said.
“Steps need to be taken to promote quality use of CBD and all cannabis-derived products given the potential for increased use and greater accessibility. Increasing understanding of pain management and the importance of multi-disciplinary care should also be part of promoting more accessible use of CBD and other medicinal cannabis products.”, Ms Bennett concluded.
Painaustralia in the news
ABC NEWS - 11 November2020
ABC NEWS - 10 November2020
The Australian - 22 September 2020
ABC NEWS - 14 September 2020
The Daily Telegraph - 04 September 2020
Latest Submissions
ENEWS Issue 101
- Painaustralia’s Statement to the Parliamentary Friends of Pain Management on medicinal cannabis - Painaustralia November 2020 Download the statement
- FEDERAL BUDGET 2020 - 21 SUMMARY - Painaustralia October 2020 Download the summary
- The Preventive Health Strategy Submission from Painaustralia September 2020 Download the submission
- PAIN AND COVID-2019 - The perfect storm that validates the need to fast track technology advances in pain assessment for vulnerable populations and their families by Dr Jennifer Abbey, AM, Carol Bennett, CEO, Painaustralia and Philip Daffas, CEO, PainChek September 2020 Download the paper
- NICE Chronic Pain Assessment and Management Guidelines to National Institute for Health and Care Excellence London UK from Painaustralia September 2020 Download the submission
- Intergenerational Health and Mental Health Study Consultation paper and Priority content for the National Health Survey 2022 from Painaustralia July 2020 Download the submission
- Inquiry Into The Use Of Cannabis In Victoria from Painaustralia July 2020 Download the submission
- A message from the CEO
- My Pain Journey campaign
- Parliamentary Friends Meeting
- ANZCA procedures for pain management
- Painaustralia Membership
- Survey on nerve pain medicine
- Productivity Commission Mental Health Report
- Take-Home Naloxone Pilot program
- New Chronic Pain Management Service
- Submissions and Policy Updates
- Videos and webinars
- Events
- Media
- Guest article: Periods, Pain and Endometriosis Program (PPEP-Talk)
- Guest article: HOW DOES THE LAW DEAL WITH PAIN? By Richard Faulks, Sneddon Hall & Gallop Lawyers
