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Vol 37, (1/2) 57–60

Caring for patients with opioid dependence

Jeremy Bunker MBBS(Hons), FRACGP, is Staff Specialist, General Practice Unit, Sydney South West Area Health Service, and Conjoint Lecturer, University of New South Wales.

Adam Winstock MBBS, BSc, MSc, MRCP(UK), MRCPsych, FAChAM, is Senior Staff Specialist, Drug Health Services, Sydney South West Area Health Service, New South Wales.

Nicholas A Zwar MBBS, MPH, PhD, FRACGP is Professor of General Practice, School of Public Health and Community Medicine, University of New South Wales, and Director, General Practice Unit, Sydney South West Area Health Service, New South Wales.

Australian general practitioners have a pivotal role in helping their patients with problems of alcohol and tobacco dependence, but have been less likely than their peers in the United Kingdom to be involved in the management of opioid dependence. This is despite the fact that most GPs are seeing opioid dependent patients whether they know it or not, and that GPs are ideally placed to manage this problem given the other advantages of the general practice context – continuity, accessibility, and whole patient care, including the ability to address other health issues.

Publication Date: 23 January 2008
Authorised By: Australian Family Physician