New Zealand Practice Guidelines for Opioid Substitution Treatment

As previous guidelines have done, these guidelines strongly endorse a path that moves away from a maintenance-treatment model and towards client-led, recovery-focused treatment. They also outline a series of important developments in the provision of OST, including:

• development of clear advice for practitioners about ‘driving while impaired’, with reference to the Land Transport Amendment Act 2009. The guidelines provide a checklist for evaluating a person’s ability to drive safely
• funding of buprenorphine (with naloxone), which has given consumers a welcome choice in their treatment options, while also deterring substance misuse and diversion
• development of the Te Whare o Tiki framework, which guides the mental health and addiction workforce in effectively responding to the needs of people with complex and co‑existing problems.

The guidelines highlight the importance of early transition planning, with an emphasis on transitioning stable clients to primary level care. Read them here