There are services available across NSW for people seeking information, support and treatment for opioids and other drugs.
The NSW Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) seeks to reduce the social, economic and health harms associated with opioid use. The OTP delivers pharmacotherapy and associated services to opioid dependent patients in NSW through the public sector (including Justice Health), and private sector (private clinics, general practitioners, psychiatrists and pharmacies). There are currently 3 types of opioid treatment pharmacotherapy available in NSW: methadone, buprenorphine and buprenorphine-naloxone.
Additional information for medical practitioners and pharmacies about the OTP is available at Medical Practitioners - NSW Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) and NSW Opioid Treatment Program (OTP).
Naloxone is a short-acting opioid antagonist medicine that reverses the effects of opioid overdose.
The NSW Take Home Naloxone intervention aims to reduce the mortality and morbidity for people who use opioid drugs or medicines.
Trained health workers at needle and syringe programs and alcohol and other drugs services in NSW can supply take home naloxone at no cost to the consumer, carer or family member, and provide a brief intervention about how to use the medicine.
For more information, please see: Take Home Naloxone
The Opioid Treatment Line (OTL) is a telephone helpline that provides opioid pharmacotherapy information, referrals, advice and a forum for pharmacotherapy concerns. Opioid pharmacotherapy includes methadone and buprenorphine ('bupe') and is specifically treatment for opioid dependence (eg heroin, morphine, oxycodone and codeine). The OTL is a free service which is available to all residents of NSW.
Hours of operation: Monday to Friday 9:30am to 5pm. Not available on public holidays.
Free call number: 1800 642 428*
Free call numbers are not free from mobile phones, except Telstra mobiles.
ADIS provides a 24-hour, seven days a week telephone counselling, support, referrals and information for those affected by alcohol or other drugs. ADIS counsellors are trained to work with people who are concerned about their own alcohol and drug use, as well as callers who are concerned about their family or friends. ADIS is a free service which is available to all residents of NSW.
Phone: 1800 250 015
ADIS Web Chat, a live online conversation with a professional counsellor, is also available from Monday to Friday 8.30am – 5pm (including public holidays).
Family Drug Support (FDS) provides telephone support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, to users, families and carers in crisis due to alcohol and other drug use issues in NSW. FDS is staffed by volunteers who have first-hand experience of drug dependent family members.
Phone: 1300 368 186
The NSW Health website Your Room provides information for the public about alcohol and other drugs, including a suite of alcohol and other drug fact sheets, resources and where to seek help. There is a specific section on heroin and pharmaceuticals opioids which describes the physical and psychological effects, what you should do in an emergency, and referral sources for treatment and online tools.
