Find a Mental Health Professional for Drug Use & Dependency

About Drug Use & Dependency support

Drug use and dependency can affect people from all walks of life and often develops in the context of pain, trauma, social circumstances, or a gradual drift from recreational use into problematic patterns. Substances vary widely in their pharmacology and their impact, and so too do the kinds of support that are most helpful. Seeking help for drug use is a sign of self-awareness, not failure, and effective treatment is available regardless of how long someone has been struggling. Treatment approaches include harm reduction, medically supervised withdrawal, residential rehabilitation, outpatient counselling, and ongoing support programs. Psychological therapies such as CBT, motivational interviewing, and contingency management are evidence-based. For opioid dependency specifically, pharmacotherapy options are available that can be life-saving and are prescribed by GPs with appropriate authorisation or through specialist addiction medicine services. In Australia, the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline (1800 250 015) provides free referral to services in every state and territory. The Australian Government's "Find a treatment centre" tool is also available online. Many specialist alcohol and drug services offer a range of access points including walk-in, phone, and community outreach. GPs are an important part of coordinating care, and Medicare rebates apply to related mental health sessions.