The Royal Australian College of GPs (RACGP) has warmly welcomed the Albanese Government boosting investment in a range of alcohol and other drug treatment services including opioid dependence treatment.
It comes following the Government announcing a suite of measures including a groundbreaking $377.3 million investment over four years in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) Opioid Dependence Treatment Program. Treasurer Jim Chalmers also announced that $33.6 million will be dedicated to extending existing alcohol and other drug programs in the community such as the Drug and Alcohol Treatment Services Maintenance Program.
RACGP President Dr Nicole Higgins said it was a positive step forward.
"Alcohol and other drug use is a health issue," she said.
"More must be done to ensure all people, irrespective of postcode or income, can access the help they need when they need it to address substance use issues. The Albanese Government is boosting investment in the Opioid Dependence Treatment Program so that more than 50,000 people who need treatment for opioid dependency will have funded support to access the treatment they need from their local pharmacy and at a cost they can afford. This is just what the doctor ordered, and I applaud the Government for making this vital investment that will save lives across Australia.
"As I said recently, the RACGP is supportive of increased access to opioid dependency therapy through pharmacy. GPs and community pharmacists can and should work together to make sure that as many people as possible with opioid dependency get the help they need."
RACGP Alcohol and Other Drug Spokesperson Dr Hester Wilson said the new investments could not come at more important time.
"It's great news the Government has heeded the RACGP's calls and given the lifesaving Opioid Dependence Treatment Program a much needed boost," she said.
"A recent report from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre found that there were 1,788 drug-induced deaths Australia-wide in 2021 alone, which is the equivalent of five drug-induced deaths every day. One of the major barriers holding back people from getting the help they need is cost. As reported on recently, medications on the opioid treatment program require patients to pay a private pharmacy dispensing fee of between $5 to $15 a day. That is a sum that many people at with opioid dependency at risk of overdose simply can't afford. So, this investment will have a profound impact for people who need a helping hand to turn their lives around."
Dr Wilson said that the job is far from done.
"The Budget measures are welcome. Let's use this to gain momentum and go even further in the years ahead," she said.
"Treatment services are out of the reach for many people so more must be done to ensure that people can access the help they need in communities nation-wide. As things stand, New South Wales police don't have the discretion to send a person in possession of small quantities of illicit drugs to a diversion program, only the ACT and the Queensland have given the green light to pill testing, and the entire country has just two medically supervised injecting facilities. That isn't good enough, we need action on all these fronts.
"On top of that, we must do more to spread awareness about naloxone – a drug that can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose and save someone's life. Not enough people know that naloxone is now available via an intranasal spray and that you don't need a prescription. It's also completely free under the Take Home Naloxone program at locations including pharmacies and needle and syringe programs. Let's get this drug into the hands of people with opioid dependency as well as their loved ones, because at the end of the day every life matters."
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