ACACIA
AOD Consultation, Assessment, Care & Intervention for Adolescents is a multidisciplinary service that offers interventions for young people (<18) with problematic substance use.
Counselling
Community D&A Treatment Programs operate from 5 sites across NSLHD – these include Ryde, Hornsby, Mona Vale, St Leonards and Brookvale. ACACIA
The Community D&A Counselling Services provide assessment, early intervention, ongoing treatment, and prevention of drug and alcohol problems. Services are also provided to the friends and family of clients with substance use problems.
Programs provided by the community D&A treatment centres are:
- Evidence based
- Client focused
- Comprehensive, covering the spectrum of mental health promotion, prevention, early intervention, assessment and treatment
- Capable of treating patients of all ranges of severity and complexity
- Provided in partnership with a range of other agencies and services
Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT)
The MERIT program operates out of Manly and Hornsby local Courts. The program is designed to engage people with local court matters in to drug and alcohol treatment. The program operates on an opt-in basis and referrals to the service can be from anyone interested in participating, Magistrates, Solicitors, and local Police. Once assessed and accepted on to the MERIT program the patient and MERIT case worker develop a treatment plan that can include a range of drug and alcohol treatment options. The client generally participates in the program for 12 weeks before returning to court to have their court matters dealt with. MERIT plays a key role in assisting clients to access other treatment services such as Detoxification, Pharmacotherapy programs and Residential Rehabilitation programs.
Opioid Treatment Program
Public Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) are available at 2 locations, Royal North Shore Community Health Centre & Brookvale Community Health Centre. The clinics provide support and case management to people with opiate dependence along with dosing services (Methadone and Buprenorphine). The program includes information & education, counselling on alcohol and other drugs, screening for blood borne viruses, medical and psychiatric assessments. The clinics also offer outpatient detoxification from Opiates (Buprenorphine assisted) which generally takes 5 days. The service works closely with Community Pharmacists and General Practitioners to support the management of these patients in the community.
Specialist Medical Clinic
Specialist Medical Clinic Assessment, withdrawal management, liaison & care planning with other services and referral.
Specialist Nurse-Led Clinic
The nurse-led clinic offers outpatient alcohol interventions, including withdrawal management, to help people cease or reduce their alcohol use in a safe and supported way. The clinic consists of specialist nurses, D&A consultants and nurse practitioner prescribing withdrawal regimes, and pharmacotherapies such as Acamprosate, Naltrexone and Disulfiram.
Admission criteria:
- Alcohol use disorder
- No poly-drug use
- No history of seizures or complicated withdrawal.
- No complex medical or psychiatric co-morbidities.
Substance Use in Pregnancy and Parenting Service (SUPPS)
The Substance Use in Pregnancy and Parenting Service is dedicated to providing client-centred, trauma informed care to pregnant women and parents of children under the age of 2 who use substances. SUPPS provision of services includes, consultation and liaison, education, assessment and care coordination. SUPPS aims to work in a holistic manner and supports women and their families to access universal health care services.
