Medication assisted treatment for opioid dependence (MATOD)

South Australia has approximately 3000 people prescribed methadone liquid or buprenorphine with naloxone in film form (Suboxone®) to assist with the management of their opioid dependence.

Approximately two thirds of these patients are managed by community prescribers - the majority of these are general practitioners (GPs).

Prescribing medications for opioid dependence is not complicated, however, there are some specific issues around the medications themselves, and about caring for people with opioid dependence that need to be considered when prescribing this treatment.