Access Criteria:

Target Group:

Male and female Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.

Income required:

No

Disability Access:

Yes

Detox required before accessing program:

No

Dual Diagnosis:

Yes. Specific programs and worker.

Documentation required:

No

Contact:

By phone, 24 hours.

Referral:

Self or worker referral.

Waiting List:

No waiting list.

Intake & Assessment:

Through the 24 hour intake line. People will be placed on a waiting list for assessment.

Program/s:

Provides support to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to access, and participate in alcohol and other drug services. Provides assessment, information, education, case management and support. Also provides information and support to alcohol and other drug services and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander services.

Cost:

Free

Staff:

Indigenous staff member.

Families / Carers:

Family and carers can be provided with alcohol and other drug information and referrals.

Phone:

(02) 6207 9977

Fax:

(02) 6205 0951

Mailing Address:

GPO Box 825, Canberra City, ACT 2601

Website:

www.health.act.gov.au

Location:

ACT Health Building, Level 1, 1 Moore St, Canberra City

Parent Organisation:

Alcohol and Drug Program (ADP), ACT Health

Opening Hours:

9am – 5pm, Monday – Friday

Treatment Approach:

Harm Minimisation

Access Criteria:

Target Group:

Males and females over 18 years of age inclusively. People under 18 years of age can be assessed for suitability and may be referred to youth services. ACT residents given priority; however, referrals are accepted from interstate.

Income required:

No

Disability Access:

Yes

Detox required before accessing program:

No

Dual Diagnosis:

Yes. Specific programs and worker.

Documentation required:

No

Contact:

By phone, 24 hours.

Referral:

Self or worker referral.

Waiting List:

No waiting list. People are seen between 2 – 14 days.

Intake & Assessment:

Eligibility is determined through the 24 hour intake line. People will be required to make an assessment appointment.

Program/s:

Provides counselling and care coordination including a range of therapeutic and educational groups to individuals, families and carers.

Relapse Prevention Program:
A free 2 hour program over 6 weeks for adults with alcohol and other drug issues, who wish to develop and maintain healthier lifestyles.

Controlling Your Drinking:
A free 4 hour program over 2 weeks designed to help people assess their alcohol use and possible barriers that prevent them from reducing their use

Effective Weed Control:
A free two hour group run over five weeks for cannabis users wanting information or who want to change their cannabis use.

Mindfulness, Mediation & Stress Management Group:
A free 6 week group program designed for individuals with, or caring for someone with and alcohol and other drug issues who want to learn: meditation and other mindfulness techniques; how to identify and let go of unhelpful thoughts, feelings, sensations and urges; and how to better manage stress and uncomfortable emotions.

Stepping Stones (a Family Drug Support course):
A course over 2 weekends to help families cope with alcohol and other drug issues by assisting the family to understand, and to influence the user with their dependence. Topics covered include coping with stress and anger, tips about communication and limit setting all in order to maximise health, so that families have the resources to maximise the help getting to the substance user.

Cost:

Free

Staff:

Nurses, Psychologists, Social Workers and Counsellors.

Families / Carers:

Family and carers can access some programs.

Phone:

(02) 6207 9977

Fax:

(02) 6205 8380

Mailing Address:

GPO Box 825, Canberra City, ACT 2601

Website:

www.health.act.gov.au

Location:

ACT Health Building, Level 1, 1 Moore St, Canberra City

Parent Organisation:

Alcohol and Drug Program (ADP), ACT Health

Opening Hours:

8.30am – 4.30pm, Monday – Friday

Treatment Approach:

Harm Minimisation

Access Criteria:

Target Group:

Males and females who have been apprehended or charged with an alcohol and other drug related offence.

Income required:

No

Disability Access:

Yes

Detox required before accessing program:

No

Dual Diagnosis:

Yes. Specific programs and worker.

Smoking:

N/A

Documentation required:

No

Referral:

Referrals are only accepted from the Australian Federal Police (AFP) or by court order (Magistrate, Children's Court or Supreme Court). People can request a referral from the Magistrate or Justice at Court hearing.

Waiting List:

No waiting list.

Intake & Assessment:

On referral by the AFP or Courts.

Process varies.

Program/s:

Provides programs that aim to divert people apprehended for drug use or drug related offences from the judicial system into the health system.

Police Early Diversion (PED):
For those who have been apprehended by the Police for possession of a small amount of illicit drugs (2 cannabis plants or amount less than 25 grams; 25% of trafficable amount of all other illicit drugs). Police can divert offenders following arrest for assessment and referral to treatment. Treatment is provided by an approved ACT agency and can include education, counselling, withdrawal, pharmacotherapy, or residential rehabilitation. Compliance with treatment is determined by the Diversion Service staff, and if compliant, a report is made to the AFP and no conviction is recorded. Non-compliance is reported back to the AFP, and the AFP determines what action should be taken (if any), but can result in a charge proceeding to court.

Court Alcohol and Drug Assessment Service (CADAS):
A pre-sentencing treatment option for clients charged with alcohol and other drug related offences. The goals are to reduce recidivism during the bail period, and to engage the client in treatment. It is therefore designed as an immediate, short-term intervention, when a client first appears before the Court. The CADAS clinicians are located at the Magistrate and Children's Court, and provides an immediate alcohol and other drug assessment, and recommend an appropriate treatment plan. If the client is released on bail to comply with the treatment plan, the CADAS clinician monitors attendance, and reports all outcomes to the Court. Non-compliance does not necessarily result in a penalty, but is taken into account by the Magistrate or Justice at sentencing.

Treatment Referral Program (TRP):
This is a sentencing option, for clients who have either committed a crime to get drugs, or money for drugs, or while under the influence of drugs. It currently applies only to those drugs which appear in Schedule 4 of the Drugs of Dependence Act (1989) ie. not alcohol.

The Magistrate or Judge may, as part of the sentence imposed, instruct a client to undergo a treatment order rather than receive a custodial sentence or as an option to reduce their custodial time. The treatment is overseen by a Treatment Assessment Panel, and conducted by an approved treatment agency. The treatment can be for a period of 6 months up to 2 years. Clients who fail to complete their treatment order, may revert to a custodial sentence.

Cost:

Free

Staff:

Alcohol and Other Drug Workers, Nurses, Social Workers and Psychologists

Families / Carers:

Family and carers can be provided with alcohol and other drug information and referrals.

Phone:

(02) 6207 9977

Fax:

(02) 6244 4622

Mailing Address:

GPO Box 825, Canberra City, ACT 2601

Website:

www.health.act.gov.au

Location:

Wruwallin Clinic, Building 7, Canberra Hospital, Palmer Street, Garran

Parent Organisation:

Alcohol and Drug Program (ADP), ACT Health

Opening Hours:

8.30am – 5pm

Treatment Approach:

Harm minimisation

Access Criteria:

Target Group:

Males and females over 18 years of age, who are residents of the ACT and who have an opioid dependency and are suitable for pharmacotherapies.

Income required:

No

Disability Access:

Yes

Dual Diagnosis:

Yes. Specific programs and worker.

Documentation required:

No

Contact:

By phone, 24 hours.

Referral:

Self or worker referral.

Waiting List:

No waiting list.

Intake & Assessment:

Through the 24 hour intake line. People will be placed on a waiting list for assessment. People wanting to start on a pharmacotherapy are assessed by an Alcohol and Drug Program Medical Officer to determine if they are suitable for treatment. This involves taking a history and conducting a physical examination. If suitable, an induction process will be started, usually the day of the medical assessment.

Program/s:

Provides prescriptions and dosing of pharmacotherapies for people seeking to manage opioid use. Case management is also provided and people continue to be reviewed by a medical officer while on pharmacotherapies. Prescriptions are reviewed every 3 months. Provides coordinated care by working with other health and pharmacotherapy services.

Cost:

Cost varies. Free for first six months then to a maximum of $30 per week.

Staff:

Medical Practitioners, Nurses, Social Workers and Pharmacists.

Families / Carers:

Family and carers can be provided with alcohol and other drug information and referrals.

Phone:

(02) 6207 9977

Fax:

(02) 6244 2744

Mailing Address:

GPO Box 825, Canberra City, ACT 2601

Website:

www.health.act.gov.au

Location:

Building 7, Canberra Hospital, Palmer Street, Garran

Parent Organisation:

Alcohol and Drug Program (ADP), ACT Health

Opening Hours:

24 hours

Treatment Approach:

Harm minimisation; however, people need to be abstinent while in program.

Access Criteria:

Target Group:

Males and females over 18 years of age inclusively. People under 18 years of age can be assessed for suitability and may be referred to youth services. ACT residents given priority; however, referrals are accepted from interstate.

Income required:

No

Disability Access:

Yes. Disability assessed on intake/triage.

Detox required before accessing program:

No

Dual Diagnosis:

Yes. Specific programs and worker.

Smoking:

Yes

Documentation required:

No

How to Access / Referrals:

Contact:

By phone, 24 hours.

Referral:

Self or worker referral.

Waiting List:

Varies from 0 – 3 weeks.

Intake & Assessment:

Through the 24 hour intake line. People will be placed on a waiting list for assessment. Staff will contact person for initial assessment to assist triage. Nursing and medical assessment completed on admission.

Program/s:

Provides up to 7 days of medicated residential (inpatient) or non-residential (outpatient) support for people experiencing withdrawal.

Therapeutic support, education, referrals, follow-up specialist services and counselling are available.

Cost:

Free

Staff:

Medical Practitioners, Nurses, Social Workers, Psychologists

Families / Carers:

Family and carers can be provided with alcohol and other drug information and referrals.