Practice Guidelines for Opioid Substitution Treatment in New Zealand 2008Date of publication (online): December 2008
Summary of publication
Practice Guidelines for Opioid Substitution Treatment in New Zealand 2008 contains practical and evidence-based advice for clinicians on best practice for clinically assessing, treating and also providing psychosocial support to clients with opioid dependence. They replace the guidelines that were published in 2003.
The new guidelines encompass a number of significant themes and important developments that have occurred over the last five years, including:
- the approval for the prescription of opioid substitution medication to clients/tangata whai ora entering prison who were already receiving opioid substitution treatment in the community
- the resolution to eliminate services’ waiting lists, hence requiring the introduction of interim prescribing as one means of managing demand
- the strong emphasis on shifting practice from maintenance treatment to actively supporting clients/tangata whai ora to plan for their own wellness and recovery, free of opioid substitution medication
- the key focus on the timely transitioning of clients/tangata whai ora to primary health care services, recognising the new opportunities that now exist with Primary Health Organisations (PHOs) agreeing to provide services to people who have addictions.
These guidelines also take into consideration the prescription of alternative pharmacotherapies to methadone, some of which, while not subsidised, may be self-funded by clients.
Related information
National Guidelines: Interim methadone prescribing |
Publishing information
Date of publication (hard copy): December 2008
ISBN numbers: 978-0-478-31857-9 (Print), 978-0-478-31858-6(Online)
HP number: 4713
Citation: Ministry of Health. 2008. Practice Guidelines for Opioid Substitution Treatment in New Zealand 2008. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
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