Victorian area-based pharmacotherapy networks
Pharmacotherapy is an important part of the Victorian Government's community response to the treatment of drugs and alcohol in the state.
Medical professionals, pharmacists and the Victorian Department of Health work together to make pharmacotherapy available to clients in the community.
This work is undertaken by five Victorian pharmacotherapy area-based networks which include:
- three regional networks
- Barwon South-West
- Grampians and Loddon Mallee
- Gippsland and Hume
- two metropolitan networks
- South and Eastern Metropolitan
- North and West Metropolitan.
Purpose of the networks
These networks were established throughout Victoria with the aim of:
- ensuring a more local approach in connecting care
- driving best practice
- improving pharmacotherapy client outcomes.
They work together to:
- develop strategic approaches to addressing needs in their areas
- work with other services in the area to form partnerships to facilitate:
- treatment referral pathways
- intervention
- ongoing support wrap-around support
- mentor providers
- attract and retain pharmacotherapy providers to relieve pressure to existing services
- provide access to ongoing training for pharmacotherapy providers.
For more information about these networks and for contacts please download the factsheet.
Forms and applications
There are several types of forms to submit if you are an approved pharmacotherapy prescriber or pharmacy.
Permission to treat an opioid-dependent person
Approved medical practitioners or nurse practitioners need to apply for a permit to treat an opioid-dependent person with methadone or buprenorphine by submitting the following application form at Online forms – drugs and poisons regulation.
Approval for pharmacotherapy prescribing or supply
Medical practitioners, nurse practitioners and community pharmacies may use the following forms to become a pharmacotherapy prescriber or supplier:
Pharmacotherapy pharmacists – self-assessment
The following form helps pharmacists to assess their compliance with key regulatory and policy requirements associated with the safe, appropriate and lawful provision of opioid replacement therapy (ORT).
Note that the form does not address all aspects of the requirements. Pharmacists should refer to the following documents for full details:
- Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Regulations 2006
- Policy for maintenance pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence.
Pharmacotherapy dispensing support program – tax invoice
If a client is eligible for pharmacotherapy dispensing support, the Department issues a letter to the dosing pharmacy confirming details of dispensing support.
If a client who is eligible for dispensing support has transferred to your pharmacy, but you have not received the letter from the Department, they will need to send an email with the change of pharmacy details and their start date via pharmacotherapy@health.vic.gov.au
Prescribing and dispensing Suboxone®
Suboxone is a sublingual film that contains the active ingredients buprenorphine and naloxone. It is registered with the Therapeutic Goods Administration for use in Australia for the treatment of opioid dependence through the Section 100 Opiate Dependence Treatment Program.
It is fully subsidised by the Commonwealth government under the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for opioid replacement therapy.
There has been some confusion about the legality and practicalities of prescribing and dispensing Suboxone for purposes other than opioid replacement therapy (off-label use).
For further information download the Suboxone® factsheet.
Reviewed 16 July 2024