Addiction Services (ATODS)

The Alcohol, Tobacco and Other Drugs Service (ATODS) is located at the North Ward Health Campus and the Vincent Health Campus. ATODS provide a range of services including intake and assessment, outpatient (ambulatory) withdrawal, opiate substitution program, Diversionary and Recovery Team (DART), counselling and assessment for youth and adults, health promotion, needle and syringe program and culturally appropriate support and stakeholder engagement. The ATODS service also builds capacity for external stakeholders to develop harm-reduction programs and interventions to reduce the harms associated with substance misuse through continuing professional development into the provision of evidence-based services for individual clients.

ATODS provides a flexible approach to client care through:

• Harm minimisation
• Recovery model of care
• Primary health Care

ATODS includes the provision of:

• Clinical assessment and psychological interventions to individuals, their partners and families on substance-related matters
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander health workers who complete culturally appropriate assessments and interventions alongside clinicians
• Opiate treatment and other pharmacological-based programs for the management of addiction
• Planned withdrawal from substances under medical supervision
• Assistance to individuals making referrals to public, private health and welfare services for clients with more complex issues
• Delivery of service promotion and health promotion strategies
• Education and training of health professionals in the assessment and management of alcohol, tobacco and illicit drugs in primary health care settings
• Consulting on the development of policies and procedures to more effectively manage the substance-related problems of staff and/or clients in workplaces
• Primary and secondary needle-and-syringe program