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A significant number of people in the ACT are impacted by Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) issues, including people with insecure accommodation and experiencing homelessness. Many of these individuals also experience mental health challenges and other health conditions. Residential Withdrawal services in the ACT have a high demand and limited supply of services, therefore non-residential services can improve access to health services. The provision of quality primary health, AOD and outreach support services is of key importance to tackling these issues and reducing health inequity experienced by these individuals.
The Karralika Programs Non-Residential Withdrawal Support Service (NRWSS) supports people with anticipated mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms, to safely withdraw or reduce their substance use in the comfort of their own home. CHN commissioned Karralika Programs to pilot the program in 2018. Due to its success, in 2021 CHN was successful in achieving a Community Health and Hospitals Program Grant to expand the program so up to 4 Registered Nurses could be employed.
Over the last year, 119 people were referred to the NRWSS program and a total of 1,648 direct client contacts occurred. Clients utilising the service provided overwhelmingly positive feedback by rating their physical and psychological health and overall quality of life at the beginning and end of the NRW program. The mean score for the clients self-rated physical health, psychological health and overall quality life all increased significantly throughout the course of the program, illustrating the significance of non-residential withdrawal support services in empowering individuals to self-manage their AOD related health issues, mental health and improve their holistic wellbeing.
Client Story
David* (not his real name) was referred by the Canberra Recovery Service (CRS) to Karralika NRWSS for detox and withdrawal support. The NRWSS nurse assessed and enrolled David to the NRW program to provide withdrawal support while detoxing at CRS.
David received telehealth support daily and nurse visits every second day. David’s random urine drug screen was positive for methamphetamine and amphetamine. Nurses worked with David to develop a withdrawal treatment and relapse prevention plan to identify coping strategies to ease his cravings and reach his treatment goals with short interventions.
David experienced common withdrawal symptoms such as irritability, anxiety, fatigue and sleep problems. On Day 4, he reported feeling restless, anxious and having nightmares. The NRWSS nurse collaborated with his GP to explore about his possible treatment plan to assist with his withdrawal symptoms and identify an appropriate course of pharmacological treatment.
Following a GP-approved, integrated course of treatment, David was no longer reporting experience of any withdrawal symptoms. On Day 9, he began participating in the rehabilitation groups. David successfully completed his detox. After 10 days of detox and providing 3 consecutives negative UDS for methamphetamine and amphetamine, he was discharged from NRWSS to the CRS rehabilitation program.
