Street drugs

Opioid dependence – Management in general practice

Dr Matthew Frei discusses the management of opioid dependence using opioid pharmacotherapy, as part of a comprehensive chronic illness management strategy. Dr Frei discusses the risks and benefits of opioid pharmacotherapy and how it works. He also discusses how to assess and manage appropriate opioid-dependent patients, including the different opioid pharmacotherapy formulations available in Australia. He goes on to discuss other possible treatment options, including drug withdrawal. Finally, Dr Frei explains how GPs can become a trained opioid prescriber and how to get more information.

Duration: 22 minutes 2 seconds
File size: 5MB

Party drugs – Use and harm reduction

Dr Matthew Frei talks about the risks associated with the use of the so-called ‘party drugs', and discusses a useful approach to general practitioner assessment and management of patients who may be using party drugs

Duration: 14 minutes 58 seconds
File size: 3MB

Cannabis and psychosis and affective disorders

Professor Dan Lubman talks about cannabis use; the complex pharmalogy that underlies its the physical and psychosocial effects; and the links between cannabis and psychosis and affective disorders. He discusses the importance of adopting a a non judgemental approach to engage the patient, assess substance abuse and psychological comorbidity and minimise harm from cannabis use. Motivational interviewing techniques can assist the patient in making links between their cannabis use and mood and psychosocial difficulties

Duration: 14 minutes
File size: 3MB