Addiction medicine

We teach into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at Sydney Medical School, a major component of which is an eight-week placement that can be taken in addiction medicine at these clinical schools:

• Central Clinical School
• Concord Clinical School
• Nepean Clinical School
• Northern Clinical School.

We offer electives in the Master of Public Health and Master of Global Health program, including the unit of study Alcohol, Drug Use and Health (PUBH5145), projects for the Public Health Capstone and the Public Health Special Project units of study.

The University offers a range of research opportunites to help you pursue your passion. You can undertake a:

• Master of Philosophy (MPhil)
• Doctor of Philosophy (PhD).

To learn more about research opportunities in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, visit our postgraduate research page.

Short courses

The specialty offers short courses in conjunction with the NSW Ministry of Health aimed to increase the knowledge and understanding of opioid treatment. The short courses are offered at no cost and include:

• Fundamentals Training in Opioid Treatment
• Opioid Treatment Accreditation Course (OTAC)
• Driving Safety: Sedating Medications and Opioid Agonist Treatment
• Treatment of Opioid Dependence with Depot Buprenorphine

The OTAC provides medical and nurse practitioners with the opportunity to apply for accreditation to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies in NSW. For more information on each short course or to register your interest visit the course website or contact the Course Coordinator

Seminars

The specialty also offers the Sydney Addiction Seminars, an evening seminar series that provides topical lectures and discussions within addiction medicine. The seminars are suited to all health professionals interested in alcohol and other drug topics, including general practitioners, nursing staff, pharmacists, and others. Previous seminars can be viewed online. For more information or to be included in the mailing list, contact the Seminar Coordinator.

Cannabidiol (CBD) is a neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant compound. Previous research suggests that CBD may also help reduce drinking and craving in individuals who want to stop or reduce their drinking.

We are currently conducting a research program in which participants are requested meet with researchers on three consecutive days on two separate occasions. By participating in this research participants will receive $240, a medical assessment and a brain scan. 

This program may suit those who:

• are having difficulties cutting down or controlling their drinking 
• are willing to participate in a research program which is aimed at improving treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder 

To take part in the program or to find out more contact us:

T| +61 437 149 138
E| Sydneyalcoholtreatmentgroup@gmail.com

We are looking for healthy volunteers between the ages of 30 to 60 to be involved in a study that will investigate brain function.

We will need you for about 1.5 hours and we'll reimburse you $40 for your time. You will undergo a brain scan while you perform different tasks and are exposed to various images.

To take part in the program or to find out more contact us:

• +614 59 877 108 or +614 55 093 221
• sydneyalcoholtreatmentgroup@gmail.com.

N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is both an anti-oxidant and an anti-inflammatory compound. New evidence suggests NAC may also help reduce drinking and craving in individuals who want to stop or reduce their drinking.

We are currently offering a 12-week treatment program for those who want to cut down on their drinking. It includes a medical assessment with our specialist and a case manager to monitor and assist you throughout the program

This program may suit those who:

• are having difficulties cutting down or controlling their drinking
• are willing to participate in a randomised controlled trial

To take part in the program or to find out more contact us:

T| +614 59 877 108 or +614 55 093 221
E| nac-aud.trial@sydney.edu.au

We are offering a program that will investigate whether CBD may help people to manage their withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking alcohol.

This program may suit you if you are:

• Between 18-65 years of age
• A regular drinker with a desire to quit
• Have tried and failed to stop drinking in the past
• Are able to undertake a 5 night stay in either Concord Repatriation General Hospital or Sydney Eye Hospital for inpatient detoxification.

To take part in the program or to find out more contact us:

• +614 59 877 108 or +614 55 093 221
• sydneyalcoholtreatmentgroup@gmail.com

For many years we have worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales, the Northern Territory and South Australia to address substance use.

The Indigenous Health and substance use program responds to the needs and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and agencies. We aim to:

• train, foster and champion Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander academics, clinicians and policymakers
• determine appropriate and effective ways to prevent substance misuse in Indigenous communities (including alcohol, tobacco, volatiles or illicit drugs)
• determine appropriate and effective ways of treating substance use by conducting clinically focused research and through refining models of clinical service delivery
• conduct ethically designed research that brings direct benefits to Indigenous communities.
• inform evidence-based policy development.

Research themes

Indigenous addiction medicine research is divided into the following themes:

1. redefining treatment
2. understanding substance use
3. screening and intervention
4. knowledge translation
5. workforce development.

The drink-less program is a practical package designed to assist primary healthcare workers to screen for alcohol related problems and offer appropriate advice to patients on drinking.

Program resources

• Drink-less information booklet (pdf, 665KB)
• Drink-less program guidelines for general practitioners (pdf, 1.1MB)
• Drink-less program guidelines for receptionists (pdf, 538KB)
• Drink-less questionnaire (pdf, 41KB)
• Drink-less scoring template (pdf, 34KB)
• Drink-less visual aid for general practitioners (pdf, 121KB).

Developed by Specialty of Addiction Medicine and over 60 collaborators across Australia, the fourth edition of National Guidelines for the Treatment of Alcohol Problems provides up-to-date, evidence-based information to clinicians on available treatments for people with alcohol problems. The Guidelines are largely directed towards individual clinicians in practice, such as primary care physicians (general practitioners, nursing staff), specialist medical practitioners, psychologists and other counsellors, and other health professionals.

The latest version of the Guidelines includes 23 chapters in three distinct sections and includes a greater focus on the issue of stigma and discrimination alongside specific population considerations, such as for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, and sexuality and gender diverse populations. Alongside the main Guidelines document, a supplement in the Medical Journal of Australia is available to summarise key recommendations for practice.

• Professor Paul Haber, Head of Specialty

• Professor Kate Conigrave
• Associate Professor Carolyn Day 
• Dr Bethany White
• Dr James Conigrave
• Associate Professor Kirsten Morley
• Associate Professor Kylie Lee
• Dr Sharon Reid
• Dr Michael Doyle
• Adjunct Associate Professor Scott Wilson
• Dr Devanshi Seth
• Professor Nick Buckley
• Professor Andrew Dawson
• Professor Andrew Baillie
• Dr Lauren Monds
• Dr Llew Mills
• Professor Nick Lintzeris
• Dr Mark Montebello
• Dr Anthony Sams
• Dr David Gordon
• Dr Abigail Yang
• Dr Esther Han