Drug Withdrawal Program
This program delivers withdrawal support for individuals and also their families and carers. Secondary consultation is provided to General Practitioners and other health/welfare professionals.
- Outpatient Withdrawal:
is available to people whose withdrawal can be appropriately managed without admission to a residential service. This involves a series of intensive individual consultations over a short period, followed by ongoing support to help complete the withdrawal.
- Home Based Withdrawal:
This service is provided by an experienced nurse and a medical practitioner where the withdrawal is of mild to moderate severity and support is available from a family member or at home.
- Hospital Based:
the Withdrawal Nurse provides support and case management for individuals whilst in hospital and a consultancy service for health professionals.
Pharmacotherapies
Pharmacotherapy is the term used to describe the use of medication to assist in the treatment of addiction (i.e. methadone, buprenorphine). Methadone is usually administered through general practitioners who have been trained to prescribe methadone and is available through a range of community pharmacists.
Specialist methadone services may be required when there are associated complex medical, psychiatric or psychological problems. The program enhances links between methadone service providers (general practitioners and pharmacists) and service recipients. Offers counselling and support and crisis management to clients, family members and significant others, facilitates referral to other agencies whose appropriate.
This service is available to those aged over 16 years, however, a minor needs consent from their parents and a second opinion from a doctor in Melbourne in addition to their local GP.
Needle & Syringe Program
This free service provides injecting drug users with sterile injecting equipment, discourages the sharing of injecting equipment, minimises the transmission of blood borne diseases, provides referral services to injecting drug users and provides the safe collection and disposal of injecting equipment in the community. The service also provides free condoms and safe sex advice.
Rural Outreach Drug Diversion
This program provides a link between the community, Courts, Police and drug treatment system, to break the link between criminal activity and drug use. The aim of the program is to reduce the harms associated with drug use and improve social functioning of those in such a situation, particularly for young people.
Click to view our Program Brochure.
To refer to our services, please see Referral Information.