Pharmacotherapy and COVID-19 - Part 2 - Sarah Lord of Harm Reduction Victoria

Straight From the Source

Pharmacotherapy is a treatment for opioid dependence that plays a vital role in many Victorians' lives.

In response to COVID-19, a number of changes were made to the way it is delivered. Some of these changes had profound effects on peoples' lives, and there is ongoing debate as to which, if any, should be kept beyond the pandemic period.

In part 2 we hear from Sarah Lord, who works at Pharmacotherapy Advocacy, Mediation & Support (PAMS), a service of Harm Reduction Victoria.

Sarah gives an inside perspective on how some of the changes were designed and implemented, their effects from her point of view, and an overview of pharmacotherapy in general.

If you are having difficulties accessing treatment, call PAMS on 1800 443 844 or visit hrvic.org.au/pams

Please also check out part 1 to hear the views of a group of consumers with firsthand experience of the changes.

The show is brought to you by the Association of Participating Service Users (APSU), which is a service of the Self Help Addiction Resource Centre (SHARC). APSU is a Victorian consumer body that believes the voices of people with lived experience of AOD issues should be heard and incorporated into service design and delivery.

The views expressed in this podcast are not necessarily the views of APSU or SHARC. Names and identifying details may have been changed for privacy reasons.

Music is by dbh. There’s plenty more of it here.