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Substance Use Disorders (SUDs) in Australia: What the data and evidence says regarding access to treatment and cost.
Brief overview of SUDs in Australia. Substance use (SU) is a preventable cause of morbidity and mortality in Australia, with widespread economic, social and health impacts (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare [AIHW], 2025a). According to available data, more than 10 million people in Australia have used illicit substances in their lifetime (AIHW, 2025b), with over 600 000 people meeting the criteria for a substance use disorder (AIHW, 2025c). This highlights the impo
Charlotte Ismay
2 min read


The current Nurse Practitioner position: based on a medical model.
In this regional/rural health service, the current Nurse Practitioner (NP) position to treat SUDs with pharmacotherapy or withdrawal management in the community is based on a medical model. This process is lengthy, involving multiple steps before patients are seen to be treated. It can take weeks to months before patients are seen by a doctor or NP. Overview of the intake and assessment process. Currently the model of care in this health service for people to access trea
Charlotte Ismay
3 min read


Pulling it all together: Project Pitch.
After examining the evidence on the structural barriers to access treatment for SUDs, learning about NP-led models for SUDs in Australia and the success of rapid-access to treatment clinics overseas, the following project pitch is proposed using the PICO (Richardson et al., 1995) format: Can a Nurse Practitioner-led rapid-access clinic improve access and outcomes in community-based treatment for adults with substance use disorders compared to standard of care in a rural
Charlotte Ismay
2 min read
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