Common alcohol, tobacco and other drug treatment options explained:

Aftercare

Aftercare is care provided after a client has received alcohol and /or other drug treatment to support clients in maintaining treatment goals

Case management

Case managers in alcohol and other drug settings work with clients to identify and manage their social, physical and psychological health and wellbeing

Counselling

Counselling programs help people with the psychological and social challenges of reducing or managing alcohol or other drug use e.g., Cognitive Behavioural Therapy and other counselling

Day program

Day programs provide intensive alcohol or other drug rehabilitation but are not live-in. Day programs can include therapeutic groups, education, counselling, peer support etc.

Information and education (only)

Drug and alcohol programs that provide information and education only i.e., where clients receive information and education, often through conversation, but not other care

Needle and syringe program

Needle and syringe programs (NSPs) provide sterile injecting equipment to people who inject drugs to reduce the harms associated with injecting e.g., providing single-use injecting equipment, safer injecting information and education

Outreach

Outreach involves peers, drug and alcohol workers or other health and welfare workers and professionals providing treatment and support to people who use alcohol, tobacco and/or other drugs in their own communities and non-service settings

Pharmacotherapy

Pharmacotherapy programs provide people with medium to long- term prescription medication for alcohol and other drug treatment e.g., Opioid Substitution Therapy, Medicated Assisted Treatment

Residential treatment

Residential treatment programs are where people ‘live-in’ to receive organised alcohol and drug treatment and support e.g., rehabilitation, therapeutic community

Specialist ATOD primary health care

Specialist alcohol, tobacco and other drug (ATOD) primary health care programs provide primary care by specialist ATOD providers that are aware and inclusive of unique primary health care needs of people who use ATOD e.g., specialist withdrawal management, specialist counselling, specialist information and education, specialist assessment

Withdrawal management (detoxification)

Withdrawal management programs provide psychological and/or medical care for people going through withdrawal symptoms to assist in managing, reducing, or stopping the use of a drug of concern

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