Medication assisted treatment for opioid dependence (MATOD) – Prescribing resources
Information about prescribing medications for opioid dependence including the GP Program, which supports prescribers.
The Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS) provides a telephone and email service for South Australian health professionals seeking clinical information and clarification around clinical procedures, guidelines and evidence-based practice.
This service does not provide proxy medical cover and cannot assume responsibility for direct patient care.
The following factsheets and other clinical information may assist health professionals in the treatment of alcohol and other drug related presentations in a general practice setting.
Alcohol withdrawal – general (includes link to CIWAar Observation schedule)
Alcohol withdrawal – inpatient (includes link to CIWAar Observation schedule and SA Health acute hospital guideline)
Alcohol withdrawal – outpatient (includes link to CIWAar Observation schedule)
Alcohol dependence medicines (including information on naltrexone, acamprosate and disulfiram as well as patient information sheets)
AUDIT – screening tool for assessing risk associated with alcohol use. Useful for brief interventions or as a first step towards addressing patients alcohol issues.
Benzodiazepine withdrawal management (including link to benzodiazepine dose equivalent chart, link to CIWA-b Withdrawal Observation Chart)
Opioid withdrawal management includes:
Inpatient management of people on methadone or Suboxone for opioid dependence admitted to hospital plus COWS (Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale)
Inpatient management of people withdrawing from unsanctioned (illicit or prescribed) plus COWS (Clinical Opioid Withdrawal Scale)
Outpatient opioid withdrawal management
Prescribing drugs of dependence in general practice (Royal Australian College of General Practitioners 2017)
Managing people with regular over the counter codeine use (PDF 1.2MB)
Referral to DASSA community clinics including country counsellors (PDF 90KB)
Phone 1300 13 1340
A confidential telephone counselling, information and referral service.
(Available 8:30am - 10pm, 7 days for SA callers only).
Support people to access alcohol and other drug treatment services in South Australia.
The website includes a service directory, information for health professionals about alcohol and other drug treatment, information about selecting a service.