Health researchers and experts around the country are desperately trying to find productive pain treatments in order to avoid a US-level opioid epidemic.

Opioids are responsible for 59 per cent of drug-related deaths in Australia according to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

University of Technology Sydney Senior Lecturer Doctor Joshua Pate told Gary Adshead on 6pr Mornings it would be wrong to immediately remove opioids as a viable medication, yet there is an inherent need to find alternatives.

“The evidence behind active active and self-management strategy has been growing enormously,” Dr Pate said.

“That’s not to say we don’t ever need to take a tablet, but now we know there are so many other potential targets.”

Press PLAY to hear more about the research into alternative pain treatments