Lives Lived Well presents the following GP education session on Wednesday 25 May, 2022.
Why GPs should attend:
Dependent substance use is a chronic, relapsing condition which can be difficult to treat. GPs and other primary care professionals have a key role to play in prevention, early detection and management of substance misuse and dependence.
About the facilitator:
GP education is facilitated by Lives Lived Well’s Addiction Medicine Specialist, Dr. Graeme Judson BHB, MBChB, Grad Dip HSc, MHSc (Hons), FAChAM. Dr. Judson has over 25 years’ experience working with people who experience substance use in New Zealand and Australia. Dr Judson works within a harm reduction and mental health recovery model.
Dr Judson has worked for Lives Lived Well (LLW) since 2014. He provides addiction medicine and clinical leadership for Lives Lived Well staff and services in NSW and Queensland, as well as partner organisations. As part of his work Dr Judson provides outreach addiction medicine support to the primary health care workforce in the West and Far West of NSW, Southeast, Central and North Queensland.
Dr Judson was a member of the Education Committee for the Australasian Chapter of Addiction Medicine from 2014 to 2019.
Essential information for primary care
Dr. Judson regularly facilitates education sessions on a range of topics related to substance use and treatment.
Learning outcomes for this GP education session are:
1. Identify patients who might be at higher risk of problematic substance use and initiate conversations about substance use with increased confidence.
2. Implement ASSIST AOD screening and withdrawal tools with patients in general practice and utilise local referral pathways.
3. Describe risks associated with prescribing opiates, and harms associated with opioid misuse, including the management of chronic disease.
4. Describe the risks of substance use during pregnancy and using relevant prevention, intervention tools and referral pathways.
5. Assess the severity of substance dependence to determine the course of withdrawal management approach and associated risk.
