Dr Chris Turnbull

Chronic Pain Team, Health NZ Te Whatu Ora - Capital Coast & Hutt Valley, Wellington, NZ

I am a Psychiatrist and Pain Specialist at Wellington Regional Pain Service, and completed my Pain Medicine training in 2023. I have previously worked and been involved in research in Consult Liaison Psychiatry, Neuropsychiatry and Remote Area Psychiatry.

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Opioid and Benzodiazepine Dispensing Patterns in New Zealand 2011-2019

​Opioids are commonly prescribed for acute pain but their use is not recommended in chronic non-cancer pain. Benzodiazepines are similarly used for short periods as hypnotics or anxiolytics, but their long-term use is not recommended. Despite this, a portion of patients initiated on opioids remain on them long-term. We report on opioid dispending and benzodiazepine co-dispensing in New Zealand in the period 2011-2019.