Getting on buprenorphine maintenance in Australia

[permastoned]

How does one get onto buprenorphine maintenance therapy in Aus? I mean I know that you have to go to your doctor and tell them about your drug use or whatever, but are there criteria you have to fulfil? Will the doctor laugh at you if you have never used street heroin but are well acquainted with pharm opes? What are the consequences of being on it? Does it mean you will not be able to get certain jobs? Can someone who is knowledgeable on this subject please fill me in?

Cheers.

 

[Scionis]

Will the doctor laugh at you if you have never used street heroin but are well acquainted with pharm opes?

Depends on what opie it is. If its something like codeine, he prolly won't put you on bupe. Stronger narcotics though such as oxy, he most likely will. It's really up to the doctors discretion. Some docs will, other will prolly try non-drug therapies. It can't hurt to ask really.

What are the consequences of being on it? Does it mean you will not be able to get certain jobs? Can someone who is knowledgeable on this subject please fill me in?

I have never heard of bupe being tested for in any drug tests, so I say it's highly unlikely.
Hope that helps.

 

[Heisenberg]

for 8mg Subutex u need auth and for 3months it needs to be taken daily, one dose and your off it or explaining what happened. some workers can get take aways, so can unemployed after 3 months if their clinic/doctor is cool. Bets to try and build a relationshipo with a doctor who isnt cvlose minded and get you on 2mg subutex script take away along with clonazepam.

You do get put on a register im pretty sure but it is not for employers to find out.

 

[Mussoman_Beast]

Where are you in Aus? Each state/territory has different rules/regulations.

Most GPs are not authorised to prescribe methadone/bupe, so you will need to find a Dr which is. Your best bet is to go to a clinic with specialist prescribers, I don't know of many GPs who will start someone from scratch.

Also how much do you use? And what sort of opioids? If you have a reasonable tolerance to opioids you will be put on methadone and not bupe. (The golden rule is if you need more than 30mg methadone a day you can't change. Once you are on 30mg methadone/daily you can make the switch to bupe, so if you can figure out roughly what you use in a day then that might give you some idea.)

And you won't be laughed at unless the Dr is a dick. I know people who have been put on methadone for panadeine forte addiction.