GPs focus on better care for people affected by drug and alcohol use
02 Sep 2026
Doctors, researchers and community leaders met in Melbourne for the 2026 General Practice in Addiction (GPADD) Conference, hosted by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).
Held over two days, the conference focused on the role of general practice in supporting people affected by addiction and substance use.
Topics discussed included:
- Substance use and family violence
- GP self-care, burnout prevention and resilience
- Party drugs and harm minimisation
- Prescription opioids and opioid use disorder
- Medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence (MATOD)
GPADD 2026 Convenor Dr Anne Saunders said general practice has an important role in reducing stigma and helping people access appropriate care.
She said strengthening primary care can help clinicians provide care that is compassionate, evidence-based and focused on the needs of patients, families and communities.
The conference also highlighted MATOD, with the RACGP continuing to call for stronger financial incentives for GPs who provide this treatment.
More than half of Australia’s drug-induced deaths in 2024 involved opioids.
RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz said each overdose death is a tragedy and can also represent a missed opportunity for early treatment and support.
Medicines such as buprenorphine and methadone can help people reduce or stop illicit opioid use, lower the risk of overdose, improve health outcomes and support long-term recovery.
The conference emphasised that when treatment is available quickly and close to home, people are more likely to engage with care and achieve better outcomes.
GPs focus on better care for people affected by drug and alcohol use
Source: Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP); UNSW National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC)