The Commonwealth Government has announced changes to the opioid treatment program (OTP), commencing on 1 July 2023. NSW OTP providers and patients can find further information, including FAQs and example PBS scripts on Opioid Treatment Program – Transition to Section 100 Highly Specialised Drugs Program.
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.
To enrol a patient on the NSW OTP, authorisation from the NSW Ministry of Health is required.
Refer to NSW clinical guidelines: Treatment of opioid dependence for further information.
Information is also available on depot buprenorphine.
Updated Centre for Alcohol and other Drugs (CAOD) guidelines are available to guide practitioner on using micro-dosing or bridging transfer techniques.
Contact NSW Drug & Alcohol Specialist Advisory Services (DASAS) on (02) 8382 1006 in Sydney metropolitan areas or 1800 023 687 in NSW regional/rural areas for clinical advice on the diagnosis and clinical management of patients with alcohol or other drug related problems.
The above forms are formatted in the State Health Record Form template.
Interstate prescribers who wish to temporarily transfer a patient to the NSW OTP are required to complete and submit an Application for Temporary Interstate Transfer to NSW Opioid Treatment Program.
For information about permanently transferring an OTP patient to NSW or temporarily transferring a NSW OTP patient to another State/Territory refer to NSW Opioid Treatment Program.
Medical and nurse practitioners must successfully complete the Fundamentals of Training and Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC) to become an accredited OTP prescriber in NSW.
A NSW medical practitioner who has not received accreditation as a NSW OTP prescriber may be authorised by the Ministry of Health to manage up to 30 patients including:
Non-accredited prescribers are encouraged to complete the free online Fundamentals Training course to ensure they understand the requirements for prescribing opioid pharmacotherapy for patients.
Authorisation to prescribe or supply methadone or buprenorphine (including buprenorphine-naloxone) must be granted by the NSW Ministry of Health before a prescription may be issued to commence treatment.
