The Opioid Safety Toolkit - Your guide to safer opioid use

When you’re living with endometriosis, adenomyosis, or pelvic pain, prescription opioids may be part of your pain management plan. While these medicines can play an important role in providing relief, it’s essential to use them safely to reduce the risk of harm—both to yourself and those around you.

That’s where the Opioid Safety Toolkit comes in.

Co-designed with consumers and Australian pain and medicine safety experts, the toolkit provides simple, tailored and evidence-based information. It also provides practical steps to help you manage opioid medicines safely, including making your own personalised opioid safety plan. Whether you’re using opioids occasionally or every day, it’s worth taking a few minutes to understand how you can reduce risks and be prepared in case something goes wrong.

What is an opioid safety plan?

An opioid safety plan is a tool that helps you think through opioid safety including appropriately storing your opioid medicines and knowing how to respond in an emergency. It’s designed for anyone using opioids.

The plan prompts you to:

• Know the signs of an opioid overdose

• Make sure you have naloxone available

• Talk to the people around you about what to do in an emergency

• Store opioids in a locked or secure place

Why have naloxone at home?

Naloxone is a medicine that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. It’s safe, easy to use, and freely available without a prescription from Australian pharmacies. Even if you don’t think you’re at risk, having naloxone on hand could save a life. Just like having a first-aid kit or an EpiPen, naloxone is a tool that helps you stay prepared. You can ask for naloxone at your local pharmacy. The Opioid Safety Toolkit includes a section on how to get naloxone and how to use it if needed.

Small steps, big impact

Using the Opioid Safety Toolkit to create your own safety plan is a simple but powerful way to take control of your health. It’s not about judgement—it’s about being informed and empowered. Whether you’re managing chronic pain, supporting a loved one, or just want to be ready in an emergency, a little planning can make all the difference. As part of your safety planning, the toolkit also includes the ROOM Tool—a brief, evidence-based self- completed tool that helps you reflect on how your pain medicine is affecting your wellbeing. ROOM stands for Routine Opioid Outcome Monitoring, and it only takes a few minutes to complete. It can help you identify any challenges with your current pain management and start a conversation with your doctor or pharmacist about how things are going. It’s another small step that can make a big difference in keeping you safe and supported. You can complete the ROOM tool online and print it at home, or email it to yourself, and take it to your next doctor’s appointment. If you are on opioids for more than a year, your doctor may be able to use the ROOM tool as part of the required annual review.

Visit saferopioiduse.com.au to create your own opioid safety plan, learn about the ROOM tool, and access a range of other pain management resources.

Thanks to Suzanne from the Opioid Safety Toolkit Team for this important information.