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A new standard of care will help thousands of Australians at risk from long-term reliance on opioid analgesics following short-term use for acute pain in hospital.

Released today, the first national Opioid Analgesic Stewardship in Acute Pain Clinical Care Standard, developed by the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care (the Commission), sets out appropriate use of opioid analgesics in the emergency department and after surgery.