Community drug and alcohol services in Western NSW

Community Drug and Alcohol Counselling provides counselling and support by drug and alcohol clinicians who work with people to address their goals. Some group programs are also offered. The services are located in communities across the District and also provide outreach services to other communities, with most co-located with mental health services that can support treatment and provide shared care.

Opioid Treatment Program (OTP) provides opioid treatment options to people who have an opioid dependence. Dosing is provided through public clinics, hospitals, or local community pharmacies. Opioid is a substance that is used to treat pain such as morphine and codeine.

Take Home Naloxone program provides overdose education with Take Home Naloxone packs. Naloxone is a drug that can temporarily reverse the effects of an opioid overdose or adverse reaction.

Cannabis Clinic offers support to people wanting to reduce or stop their cannabis use. The Cannabis Clinic is available in Orange and Bathurst. It provides assessment, treatment plan development, counselling, withdrawal support, education, health promotion and referral as required.

Support is available for pregnant women with substance use concerns. 

For more information about the referral process, talk to your antenatal clinic or contact the 24-hour Drug and Alcohol Central Intake Service on 1300 661 050.

The Magistrates Early Referral Into Treatment (MERIT) Program is a 12 week intensive program for people who have matters before the courts. MERIT is available through the following courts: Orange, Dubbo, Wellington, Bathurst, Blayney, Oberon, Forbes and Parkes. A person can self-refer, or be referred by the magistrate, police and other services. 

Youth Drug and Alcohol Clinical Service Network (YDACSN) aims to increase access to drug and alcohol services for young people aged 10 to 18 years with virtually-based clinicians supporting local service providers to deliver the drug and alcohol treatment.

Program overview

The Youth Drug and Alcohol Clinical Support Network:

• Co-ordinate the treatment and care for young people with moderate to severe substance use across the Western NSW Local Health District.
• Assist people working with youth and their families to provide evidenced based support and interventions.

Substance use may include alcohol, drugs, vaping and solvent misuse.

When a young person has a moderate to severe substance use problem, their substance use may impact on their mental health, physical health, attendance at school or work, relationships with family and friends, finances and unwanted contact with the Youth Justice system.

Substance use can happen at any age and it can effect an individual, their families and the community in a number of different ways. Studies have shown that young people who engage in problematic substance use are at greater risk for lifelong negative consequences.

Young people can come to rely on substance use as a coping strategy in response to life stressors or underlying problems that they believe are overwhelming or not able to be solved. Youth Drug and Alcohol Clinical Support Network acknowledges that the substance use of each young person has a purpose for them, even when associated with unwanted complications.

The Youth Drug and Alcohol Clinical Support Network provides:

• assistance with screening, assessment, care planning, treatment and care coordination for young people with complex needs
• links to local services and referral pathways to support coordination of care between service providers
• clinical advice and support for service providers (government and nongovernment) working with young people aged 10 to 18 years with ‘moderate to severe’ substance use
• training, education, tools and resources to enhance the capacity of services to deliver a range of evidence-based drug and alcohol  supports and interventions for young people.

Referrals to the service can be made by any young person or their family as well as by any other service provider including GP’s, Health Services, Non-Government Organisations, Department of Communities and Justice, Youth Justice, Police, or Education.

Referrals can be made by contacting, YDACSN on (02) 6369 7920 or WNSWLHD-YDACSN@health.nsw.gov.au, or via the Western NSW LHD Drug and Alcohol Helpline on 1300 887 000 (8:30am to 4:30pm, Monday to Friday).

People attending Orange, Dubbo and Bathurst Base Hospitals who also have drug and alcohol related problems can get help from the Drug and Alcohol Consultation Liaison Service.

This is an involuntary inpatient program for people who are unable to stop their substance use. The Drug and Alcohol Helpline (1300 887 000) can advise if this program could be a treatment option.