National Drug Strategy
National Drug Strategy

Clinical Guidelines and Procedures for the use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Heroin Dependance

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Prepared by the Intergovernmental Committee on Drugs (IGCD) sub-committee, Methadone and Other Treatments. To be published by the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing in late 2006.

The "National Clinical Guidelines and Procedures for the use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Heroin Dependence" were first published in 2001. These guidelines were originally developed by a working party of senior Australian clinicians and researchers experienced in prescribing and dispensing of buprenorphine, and provide a broad policy context for State and Territory policies and guidelines that are concerned with the treatment of heroin dependence with buprenorphine.

The 2001 guidelines have recently been updated due to the introduction of a new opioid pharmacotherapy, SuboxoneŽ, which is now listed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme, as well as changes in research and clinical knowledge of pharmacotherapies used is in the treatment of heroin dependence. The 2006 revised guidelines have been endorsed by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, The Royal Australian College of Physicians and the Australian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs.

In May 2006, the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy endorsed the 2006 revised guidelines (full and abbreviated versions) for release. It is expected that these publications will be available later in 2006. In the interim, the guidelines can be downloaded as Word documents for printing via the following link.

National Clinical Guidelines and Procedures for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence (PDF 1023 KB)

National Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine in the Treatment of Opioid Dependence - Abbreviated version (PDF 681 KB)

Page currency, Latest update: 27 July, 2006

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