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Information for health professionals

Information for health professionals referring patients to Western Health's Drug Health Service for alcohol and other drug support, detoxification, and counselling services.

Support for patients with alcohol and other drug concerns

Western Health’s Addiction Medicine team provides comprehensive support for people experiencing issues related to alcohol and other drug use. Our multidisciplinary team brings together Medicine, Psychiatry, Psychology, and Nursing. We are available to consult and help manage patients from all areas of the hospital and Drug Health Services sites. 

Our services include: 

  • Managing drug-related problems such as withdrawal, overdose and associated problems.
  • Advice on harm reduction approaches.
  • Specialist consultation regarding the management of complex presentations.
  • Providing multidisciplinary approaches to case review and treatment planning.
  • Primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of drug-related problems.
  • Consultation and support around strategies to help stop smoking.

We work closely with health professionals across hospitals, community health settings, and private practice to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time.

How to refer a patient

Health professionals can refer patients to the Drug Health Service by:

  • Phone: Call (03) 8345 6682 and ask to page the Addiction Medicine Registrar on pager 554 to discuss referral options or arrange an intake assessment.
     

Please include detailed clinical information to help ensure patients are directed to the most appropriate service.

 

In the case of a life threatening emergency, call 30020.
Emergency

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Acknowledgement of Country

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of all the lands and waterways on which Western Health staff, volunteers, consumers and caregivers come together. As we work, learn and grow, we pay our deep respects to the Elders and Traditional Custodians past, present and emerging of the Wurundjeri Woi-Wurrung, Boon Wurrung, Bunurong and Wadawurrung Countries of the greater Kulin Nation. We are committed to the healing of country, working towards equity in health outcomes, and the ongoing journey of reconciliation. Western Health is committed to respectfully listening and learning from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and we are truly guided by the values of relationship, responsibility and respect.