Methadone and buprenorphine prescribing patterns of Victorian general practitioners: Their first 5 years after authorisation

Abstract

Introduction and Aims. The use of opioid substitution therapy (OST) is a widely used and effective treatment for opioid dependence, yet many Australian general practitioners (GPs) authorised to administer OST, prescribe to very few or no patients. This is a particular issue within Victoria that places greater reliance on a small number of active OST prescribing GPs, compared with other jurisdictions. Given the unmet demand for treatment, the provision of accurate figures on the OST prescribing practices of Victorian GPs is necessary for workforce planning. This study aimed to ascertain information on the prescribing patterns of Victorian GPs in their first 5 years after training, and elicit ..