Concord Dependency Seminars were previously published at http://www.redfernclinic.com/



26 June 2010

NEW PROGRAM FOR 2010.

Concord Seminar sessions for 2010.

2/02/2010 The Exit Strategy Part 1: Naltrexone Implants: What does the evidence tell us? Ross Colquhoun

20/04/2010 Wet Brain: Alcohol and the Brain - delerium, confabulation, amnesia, and collapse. Prof Paul Haber

8/06/2010 The Other Hepatitis"- An Update on Hepatitis B Part 2 Dr Gail Matthews

Tues 3/08/2010 - Is pathological gambling an addiction? You bet it may or may not be! Prof Alex Blaszczynski

Tues 21/09/2010 - Mentally Disordered or Mentally Ill? The NSW Mental Health Act, and how to use it in drug and alcohol settings and in community practice.
Dr Glenys Dore & Dr Lisa Juckes

30/11/2010 The Exit Strategy Part 2: Is there life after methadone? Prof Nicholas Lintzeris


Organisation:

No booking necessary. 6.30pm for introductions and refreshments, session starts 7pm. Parking available at front of Concord Hospital. Conference Room 1, opposite hospital cafeteria. For information call Dr Richard Hallinan or Dr Andrew Byrne (02) 9319 5524. GP CPD credits available.

This seminar series has been set up as a regular activity attracting 2 points/hours for RACGP QA&CPD (activity number 745701)

Objectives and prereading will be circulated prior to each seminar (some details below).

Sponsored by Reckitt Benckiser, manufacturers of buprenorphine products.


THE CONCORD DEPENDENCY SEMINARS 2010 CALENDAR AND PRE-READING:

2/02/2010 - The Exit Strategy Part 1: Naltrexone Implants: What does the evidence tell us?Ross Colquhoun & Richard Hallinan

Naltrexone implants have been used for opioid dependence in Australia since about 2001, usually following "rapid opioid detox" procedures. So far they are only used in a small number of centres. Since 2001 published literature has built up, much of it post hoc and naturalistic, but recently some prospective studies, including 2 randomised controlled trials have been published. What does the evidence tell us about these devices? Are they ready to enter the mainstream of addiction treatment? In this seminar Richard Hallinan will present a brief overview of the published literature, and Ross Colquhoun will describe and present data on his experiences using naltrexone implants in Sydney over a number of years. In the second half several case studies will be presented, with discussion.

Pre-reading: http://www.redfernclinic.com/concord/2009/12/concord-seminar-series-tues-1st.php4

20/04/2010 - Wet Brain: Alcohol and the Brain - delirium, confabulation, amnesia, and collapse. Professor Paul Haber.

In this seminar Dr Paul Haber will take us through alcohol's wide range of acute and chronic neurological neuropsychological harms, with an emphasis on diagnostic dilemmas, problems not to be missed, harm reduction measures, safety issues and other pitfalls in community practice. Case studies of collapse, confusion, memory loss, and gait impairment will illustrate the importance of alcohol as one of the "great mimics" of modern medicine.


8/06/2010 - The Other Hepatitis - An Update on Hepatitis B Part 2. Dr Gail Matthews, Infectious Diseases Physician, St Vincent’s Hospital, Darlinghurst


Although less common in injecting drug users than Hepatitis C (HCV), Hepatitis B (HBV) is common in Australia, and co-infection with Hepatitis C poses particular problems. Part 1 of this seminar pair looked at trends in the epidemiology of Hepatitis B in Australia, how to assess and manage Hepatitis B and to prioritise for treatment, as well as about new directions in pharmacotherapies. By popular demand from participants in the first seminar, we will revisit these themes with more case studies covering diagnosis and assessment, indications for treatment, coinfection with HCV or HIV, and special issues for substance using populations.

For pre-reading:
http://www.redfernclinic.com/concord/2008/07/other-hepatitis-update-on-hepatitis-b.php4


3/08/2010 - Is pathological gambling an addiction? You bet it may or may not be! Prof Alex Blaszczynski

Pathological Gambling is classified in DSM IV among the impulse control disorders, yet it appears to share many features with, and its diagnostic criteria modelled after, substance use disorders. What do they have in common, and can drug and alcohol services have a role in dealing with the problem? Do medications help? How should drug and alcohol specialists handle people with concurrent substance use and gambling problems? Can Protective Estates Orders be invoked? Cases studies will present gambling problems in isolation and in combination with substance use problems. Alex Blaszczynski is a Professor of Clinical Psychology and the Director of the Gambling Treatment Centre in the School of Psychology, University of Sydney and was Head of the Department of Medical Psychology at Westmead Hospital. He has conducted randomized controlled outcome cognitive and behavioural treatment studies, and investigated the prevalence of co-morbid substance abuse, withdrawal and tolerance phenomenon, and suicidality in pathological gamblers seeking treatment. He has written a self-help manual, "Overcoming Compulsive Gambling". He is editor of International Gambling Studies and Assistant Regional Editor for Addiction. http://www.psych.usyd.edu.au/staff/alexb/

21/09/2010 Mentally Disordered or Mentally Ill? The NSW Mental Health Act, and how to use it in drug and alcohol settings and in community practice. Dr Glenys Dore and Dr Lisa Juckes.

In this seminar Dr Glenys Dore and Dr Lisa Juckes will take us through the maze of the NSW Mental Health Act, including the Temporary Protection Order, Continuing Treatment Order, the role of the Crisis Team of the local Mental Health Unit, the Mental Health Review Tribunal, and Community Treatment Orders, with a special emphasis on their use in people affected by alcohol and other drugs. There will also be a brief introduction to Protective Estates Orders and the workings of the Protected Estates Act 1983. Case studies will illustrate how these laws and regulations are best used in community practice and drug and alcohol settings.


30/11/2010 - The Exit Strategy Part 2: Is there life after methadone? Dr Nick Lintzeris & Richard Hallinan

A common complaint about opioid substitution treatment is that there is "no exit strategy". People talk of liquid handcuffs, and critics claim OST just keeps the people addicted forever. How should the health professionals respond to a request for reductions toward abstinence? Is there any evidence to guide professional practice? Dr Nick Lintzeris (and Richard Hallinan) will present an overview of published evidence about duration of OST treatment, withdrawal and reduction regimens, "cycling in and out of treatment", the relative ease of reductions for methadone and buprenorphine and other matters. Case studies and discussion in the second half.