A DRUG AND ALCOHOL SERVICE BASED IN A GENERAL HOSPITAL

Abstract

AbstractThe development since 1976 of a treatment service for drugs and alcohol related problems at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital (RPAH) is described. The service, which was an initiative of the Division of Medicine is offered as a consultation, assessment and treatment service for in‐ and outpatients. The Unit acknowledges that a specific clinical intervention may not be important4, but that assessment and intervention of any sort may have a therapeutic importance. The organisation of Drug and Alcohol Services (DAS) in 1983 is headed by a General Physician with administrative responsibility to the Director of Medical Services and professional responsibility to the Division of Medicine, and the Department of Neurology. 376 new patient consultations were seen in 1983. A non medical detoxification unit on the hospital campus serviced 1700 admissions. There is a Liaison Nurse to assist with nursing management problems. The Unit has an education role in the Hospital for medical and nursing staff. Two project officers are completing a project on teaching guidelines and resource material for nurse education in N.S.W. A Regional Brain Damage Unit is investigating the prevalence of neurological disease due to alcohol and advising on special rehabilitiation needs of these patients. The overall success rate of the first 200 patients followed for at least six months in 1981 was 18%. There has been a satisfactory outcome in 15% of patients referred to community resources after alcohol detoxification. In 1983 5% of patients referred to the Service were using narcotics, 15% were using benzodiazepines or other sedatives. A methadone maintenance programme for heroin addicted mothers is run at King George V Hospital (RPAH) in conjunction with the Bourke Street Drug Advisory Service; referrals for opiate and other sedative dependence may be made to other special units in the region. The DAS Unit has become an integral part of the medical services offered at RPAH.