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Australian Family Physician
Australian Family Physician

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Volume 40, Issue 4, April 2011

Opioid substitution therapy A study of GP participation in prescribing

Jane Scarborough Jaklin Eliott Annette Braunack-Mayer
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Background
Opioid substitution therapy (OST) is the most commonly provided treatment for heroin dependence in Australia and has been shown to be effective. Access to OST outside of specialised public clinics and prisons relies on the participation of general practitioners. In Australia there is a shortage of GPs available to prescribe OST, which results in an unmet need for OST services. Studies have reported barriers to GP involvement in drug and alcohol work and there is little research looking at the perceptions and experiences of GPs involved in prescribing OST.
Discussion
This study has limited generalisability due to the small sample size but it does highlight some insights that can be gained from talking to experienced OST prescribers.
Results
All participants described similar positive and negative aspects associated with prescribing OST. Some participants commenced prescribing in such a manner as to limit the scope of their involvement. Ceasing OST prescribing was not necessarily linked to negative experiences. Exprescribers indicated that they were unlikely to recommence prescribing.

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