Project 
overview. 

Overview. 

 

Access to treatment for substance use disorders (SUDs) is critical to achieve positive patient outcomes (Corredor-Waldron & Currie, 2022). One of the key barriers in accessing treatment is lengthy intake processes and long waitlists (Francia et al., 2022; Neale et al., 2024; Rubenis et al., 2024). ​

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​This project aims to examine the current evidence around treatment wait times and  intake processes and how a Nurse Practitioner (NP) model of care aims to reduce these barriers in three easy-to-read blog posts. 

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This project is aligned with both national and international priorities for SUDs, specifically:

1. The National Drug Strategy 2017-2026 (Department of Health, 2017)​ which main actions are:

• Increase access to treatment and support for those with SUDs

• Creation of novel models to reduce use of susbtances

• Increase participation in treatment uptake

2. International Standards for the Treatment of Drug Use Disorders (World Health Organization and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, 2020) which calls for:

• Treatment of SUDs that is accessible, affordable and diversified​