New National Program Helps GPs Reduce High-Risk Medicines Safely

New National Program Helps GPs Reduce High-Risk Medicines Safely

02 Jul 2026

The SUPPORT-Meds initiative is the first program of its kind in Australia to focus on deprescribing and reducing medication-related harm.

Led by Monash University in partnership with the RACGP and other healthcare organisations, the program provides practical tools, online learning, clinical resources and personalised tapering calculators to support safe deprescribing.

The program will initially focus on medicines commonly linked to long-term harm, including benzodiazepines, Z-drugs used for insomnia, and opioids prescribed for persistent non-cancer pain. It will later expand to include proton pump inhibitors, antipsychotics used in dementia, NSAIDs and gabapentinoids.

Healthcare professionals will also have access to education modules, expert support and resources to help them discuss deprescribing with patients and create safe medication reduction plans.

Professor Parker Magin, a GP and member of the program's advisory group, said prescribing medicines is only one part of patient care, and knowing when to safely reduce or stop treatment is equally important. He said the program aims to give clinicians the confidence and practical skills to guide patients through the process.

The launch comes as concerns continue to grow about the risks of long-term use of certain medicines. Recent data shows unintentional deaths involving opioids and benzodiazepines are increasing across Australia, while nearly 40% of Australians aged 75 years and older take five or more prescription medicines.

RACGP Specific Interests Addiction Medicine Chair Dr Hester Wilson said many GPs regularly care for patients who have been taking high-risk medicines for many years. She said deprescribing requires careful planning because stopping these medicines too quickly can lead to serious withdrawal symptoms and other health risks.

Dr Wilson welcomed the new program but said longer consultations are often needed to safely support patients through medication changes. She added that stronger Medicare support for complex consultations would help GPs provide this important care.

The SUPPORT-Meds program joins a growing range of Australian deprescribing guidelines and resources aimed at helping clinicians improve medication safety and reduce unnecessary long-term medicine use.

New National Program Helps GPs Reduce High-Risk Medicines Safely

Source: newsGP

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