153027 - Providing Quality Health Care for People Who Use Illicit Drugs

To improve the knowledge, skills and confidence of general practitioners to provide quality primary health care services to patients who use illicit drugs.

Alcohol and other drug (AOD) use is commonplace in Australia with recent data showing that just under 4 in 10 Australians either smoked daily, drank alcohol to potentially risky levels or used an illicit drug in the previous 12 months (AIHW, 2017). While not all drug use (licit or illicit) is problematic or harmful for the individual, there is significant morbidity and mortality associated with drug use in society. The prevalence and health impacts of drug use in society has led to a growing recognition of the important role of general practice in providing primary care for people who use alcohol and other drugs (RACGP, 2013). Recent research has found however, that negative attitudes of health professionals towards patients who use illicit drugs are common and contribute to suboptimal health care for these patients (Van Boekel et al, 2013). More targeted GP training and education is therefore needed to address these barriers and concerns (CESPHN, 2017).