For information about PHN services, events and e-newsletters:
- South Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (SEMPHN) – semphn.org.au
- Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network (EMPHN) – emphn.org.au
Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD) training
- For prescribers: MATOD Module 1 and Module 2 (Part A and B)
- For pharmacists: PSA’s Victorian Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program
Policy, guidelines & diagnostic criteria
- Policy for maintenance pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence (pdf)
Department of Health and Human Services pharmacotherapy policy for providers (GPs and pharmacists), September 2016.
- National Guidelines for Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (pdf)
Commonwealth Department of Health, April 2014.
- DSM-V criteria for the diagnosis of Opioid Use Disorder (pdf)
Diagnostic tool for Opioid Use Disorder, the clinical term for opioid dependence. For more information about DSM-V please visit www.dsm5.org.
Professional development
- Buprenorphine and naloxone prescribing guidelines (pdf)
A guide to assist medical practitioners in prescribing buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®) - Buprenorphine/Naloxone – Safe Prescribing
A 16 minute online training video to assist medical practitioners in prescribing buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone®). - Meducate Opioid Stewardship modules – Free GP Training
Prescription medicines kill more people than the road toll. This statistic reminds us of how opioid stewardship is now as relevant and as necessary as antibiotic stewardship. This online training is funded by the Victorian Pharmacotherapy Area-Based Networks and identifies three stages in patient care during which opioid prescribing can be an issue:
-Initiation of opioids in acute pain
-Initiation of opioids in chronic pain
-Management of patients already prescribed high dose opioids
- Management of Opioid Dependence: Best Practice, Business Model
A face-to-face educational session for practice managers and other practice staff to increase understanding and skills around managing alcohol and other drug presentations, particularly pharmacotherapy, in the General Practice setting. More information under Practice Managers and practice staff. - https://westvic.healthpathways.org.au/
A web-based portal for health professionals containing treatment pathways for specific conditions. This portal was developed for the western Victoria region, however has comprehensive information about:- Opioid dependence
- Dependence on combination analgesics containing codeine (CACC), also known as over-the-counter codeine products
- Patient requests for combination analgesics containing codeine (CACC)
- Drug seekers
- Opioid pharmacotherapy dispensing – information for pharmacists (setting up pharmacotherapy in the pharmacy)
Consumer education: Changing Lanes
Developed by Harm Reduction Victoria’s PAMS Service (Pharmacotherapy Advocacy, Mediation and Support), Changing Lanes is a new series of four short videos made for and by people who are considering or are already on methadone or buprenorphine in Victoria.
The Changing Lanes video series consists of:
- Episode 1 (E01): Deciding To Go on Treatment (04:59)
- Episode 2 (E02): Accessing Treatment (05:31)
- Episode 3 (E03): Organising Life Around Treatment (05:35)
- Episode 4 (E04): Treatment Goals (04:59)
Click here to view the four short Changing Lanes videos. For further information, contact PAMS on pams@hrvic.org.au or (03) 9329 1500.
Links to other organisations and supports
- DirectLine (Part of Turning Point Alcohol and Drug Centre)
http://www.directline.org.au/ 1800 888 236
A 24 hour confidential counselling and treatment referral service for patients affected by alcohol and other drugs. Contains a database of pharmacotherapy prescribers and pharmacies.
- Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS)
http://www.dacas.org.au/ 1800 812 804
A 24 hour specialist clinical advice helpline for health professionals treating patients with alcohol and other drug concerns, including pharmacotherapy.
- Pharmacotherapy Advocacy, Mediation and Support (PAMS)
http://hrvic.org.au/pharmacotherapy/ 1800 443 844
A support service for consumers and health professionals to assist with pharmacotherapy concerns such as agreements or payment challenges.
- Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) pharmacotherapy page
https://www2.health.vic.gov.au/public-health/drugs-and-poisons/pharmacotherapy
Contains all pharmacotherapy-related DHHS documentation including the Policy for maintenance pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence, forms, supplementary resources and information about training.
- The First Stop
http://thefirststop.org.au/
The First Stop is a website for people affected by a friend or family member’s alcohol or other drug use. It includes information on where to find quality support and treatment services which are funded by the Victorian and Australian governments.
- Medication Support and Recovery Service (MSRS)
https://msrs.org.au/
The Medication Support and Recovery Service (MSRS) provides support and recovery for medication misuse. It is an initiative of the Connect4Health consortium and is fully funded by the federal government through the Eastern Melbourne Primary Health Network.
- Pharmacotherapy Area-Based Networks (PABNs)
www.pabn.org.au
The Pharmacotherapy Area-Based Networks (PABN) website providing information and contacts to each of the five Victorian Pharmacotherapy Area-Based Networks.