Affiliations
We take clinical, public health and research approaches to address the adverse health consequences of substance use.
The Specialty of Addiction Medicine was formed in 2007 and was the first of its kind in Australia. We comprise teaching and research staff within Sydney Medical School, clinical schools and research centres and institutes at the University. Our research covers many facets of addiction medicine including diagnosis, investigation, prevention and treatment.
We teach into the Doctor of Medicine (MD) program at Sydney Medical School, a major component of which is an eight-week placement that can be taken in addiction medicine at these clinical schools:
We offer electives in the Master of Public Health and Master of Global Health program, including the unit of study Alcohol, Drug Use and Health (PUBH5145), projects for the Public Health Capstone and the Public Health Special Project units of study.
The University offers a range of research opportunites to help you pursue your passion. You can undertake a:
To learn more about research opportunities in the Faculty of Medicine and Health, visit our postgraduate research page.
Short courses
The specialty offers short courses in conjunction with the NSW Ministry of Health aimed to increase the knowledge and understanding of opioid treatment. The short courses are offered at no cost and include:
The OTAC provides medical and nurse practitioners with the opportunity to apply for accreditation to prescribe opioid pharmacotherapies in NSW. For more information on each short course or to register your interest visit the course website or contact the Course Coordinator
Seminars
The specialty also offers the Sydney Addiction Seminars, an evening seminar series that provides topical lectures and discussions within addiction medicine. The seminars are suited to all health professionals interested in alcohol and other drug topics, including general practitioners, nursing staff, pharmacists, and others. Previous seminars can be viewed online. For more information or to be included in the mailing list, contact the Seminar Coordinator.
Despite how alcohol-use disorders are a leading cause of preventable death, treatment options are still limited, indicating the need for continuing research.
Our work is at the forefront of alcohol treatment in Australia. Your involvement in one of our studies will not only contribute to future treatments of alcohol dependence nationwide, but also be of immense help in achieving your abstinence or moderation goals.
Cannabidiol (CBD) is a neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant compound. Previous research suggests that CBD may also help reduce drinking and craving in individuals who want to stop or reduce their drinking.
We are currently conducting a research program in which participants are requested meet with researchers on three consecutive days on two separate occasions. By participating in this research participants will receive $240, a medical assessment and a brain scan.
This program may suit those who:
To take part in the program or to find out more contact us:
T| +61 437 149 138
E| Sydneyalcoholtreatmentgroup@gmail.com
We are looking for healthy volunteers between the ages of 30 to 60 to be involved in a study that will investigate brain function.
We will need you for about 1.5 hours and we'll reimburse you $40 for your time. You will undergo a brain scan while you perform different tasks and are exposed to various images.
To take part in the program or to find out more contact us:
N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) is both an anti-oxidant and an anti-inflammatory compound. New evidence suggests NAC may also help reduce drinking and craving in individuals who want to stop or reduce their drinking.
We are currently offering a 12-week treatment program for those who want to cut down on their drinking. It includes a medical assessment with our specialist and a case manager to monitor and assist you throughout the program
This program may suit those who:
To take part in the program or to find out more contact us:
T| +614 59 877 108 or +614 55 093 221
E| nac-aud.trial@sydney.edu.au
We are offering a program that will investigate whether CBD may help people to manage their withdrawal symptoms when they stop drinking alcohol.
This program may suit you if you are:
To take part in the program or to find out more contact us:
We are unique in having a collection of researchers working in every area of addiction medicine, from epidemiology to clinical intervention trials and laboratory studies.
For many years we have worked with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in New South Wales, the Northern Territory and South Australia to address substance use.
The Indigenous Health and substance use program responds to the needs and priorities of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and agencies. We aim to:
Indigenous addiction medicine research is divided into the following themes:
The drink-less program is a practical package designed to assist primary healthcare workers to screen for alcohol related problems and offer appropriate advice to patients on drinking.
Developed by Specialty of Addiction Medicine and over 60 collaborators across Australia, the fourth edition of National Guidelines for the Treatment of Alcohol Problems provides up-to-date, evidence-based information to clinicians on available treatments for people with alcohol problems. The Guidelines are largely directed towards individual clinicians in practice, such as primary care physicians (general practitioners, nursing staff), specialist medical practitioners, psychologists and other counsellors, and other health professionals.
The latest version of the Guidelines includes 23 chapters in three distinct sections and includes a greater focus on the issue of stigma and discrimination alongside specific population considerations, such as for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, culturally and linguistically diverse groups, and sexuality and gender diverse populations. Alongside the main Guidelines document, a supplement in the Medical Journal of Australia is available to summarise key recommendations for practice.
Specific to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples' health