NCJ Number
185370
Journal
Drugs: Education, Prevention and Policy Volume: 7 Issue: 3 Dated: August 2000 Pages: 223-234
Date Published
August 2000
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This study examines a model of primary care for substance misusers.
Abstract
In 1997, all 530 General Practitioners (GPs) in Lothian were asked their opinions regarding working with drug users, substitute prescribing, and their views of the 9-year-old Community Drug Problem Service (CDPS). Respondents were an experienced group, and virtually all were prescribing or had done so in the past. All wanted to get drug users off drugs and were concerned that this was not happening within an acceptable time period. In terms of CDPS service delivery, top priority for GPs was rapid, good-quality assessment of referrals. The GPs were generally satisfied with the service being provided. In follow-up actions, the CDPS developed a central Assessment Team to provide equitable service to all Edinburgh city sectors. A pilot Locality Clinic was established in the southwest sector of the city to provide a prescribing service for GPs who chose not to prescribe or had reached capacity. Healthcare agencies also began to develop guidelines for improved supervision of methadone in the community, and established a program of supervised administration of methadone in community pharmacies. Figures, tables, references, appendix