Substance Misuse

Overview of Programme

• To provide training and continuing medical education to general practitioners involved in providing drug treatment in primary care.
• To develop best practice guidelines for delivering care in primary care.
• To develop and implement an audit process which both ensures best practice and provides support for general practitioners taking part in the programme.

Members of Programme

• Programme Director: Dr Ide Delargy, email: ide.delargy@icgp.ie
• Clinical Audit Facilitator: Mary Fanning, email: mary.fanning@icgp.ie 
• Administrator: Niamh Killeen, email: niamh.killeen@icgp.ie

Background to Programme

The Methadone Treatment Protocol was introduced in 1998. This provided a structure and protocol for providing methadone treatment to opiate users. New regulations pertaining to the prescribing and dispensing of methadone were introduced. A joint Health Board/ICGP committee was formed to provide training, ongoing education and regular audit for general practitioners taking part in the programme.

Under this agreement, any GP wishing to take part in the provision of treatment services to drug users must undertake training as provided by the ICGP. This training is available to ICGP members and non-members.

Educational Aims of Programme

• To ensure that all participating GPs have training in the management of opiate misusers before becoming involved in treatment.
• To ensure that all GPs are supported in their attempts to provide services to drug users according to the best practice guidelines. To ensure that GPs maintain their level of knowledge and are regularly updated on current issues.

Step 1 - COMPLETE LEVEL 1 TRAINING COURSE