Monash Health Drug and Alcohol Service is a service within the Mental Health Program of Monash Health committed to providing opportunities for change and growth for people affected by problematic alcohol and drug use, improving their physical and mental health, and reconnecting them to their family and the community.

On this page

• SECADA
• Monash Health Drug and Alcohol Services
• Primary Health Clinic
• Needle and Syringe Program
• Southern Dual Diagnosis Service
• The Addiction Medicine Unit

Secada will provide appointments and referrals:

• Intake and Assessment
• Counselling – standard and complex,
• Care & Recovery Coordination
• Non-residential Withdrawal Services
• Referrals to Residential (detox) Withdrawal Services and Rehabilitation Services

For further information visit https://secada.org.au

Call 1800 14 25 36 to access the SECADA initial telephone intake and screening service.

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Monash Health Drug and Alcohol Services

In addition to the services provided as part of the SECADA Consortium, Monash Health Drug & Alcohol Services offers the following to people with problematic drug and alcohol use:

• Primary Health Clinic and Needle Syringe Program
• Southern Dual Diagnosis Service for agencies providing AOD or Mental Health Services
• Addiction Medicine Unit for inpatients and outpatients of Monash Health Hospitals

Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Backgrounds

Monash Health Drug & Alcohol Services has access to information for people whose first language is not English and will organise an interpreter if required.

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Primary Health Clinic

The Primary Health Clinic provides pharmacotherapies, drug overdose response and specialised health care, basic nursing and mental health support, general dietary advice, as well as other practical supports for people who inject drugs.

Specific services include:

• Blood-borne virus testing
• HIV and hepatitis C diagnosis and treatment
• Vein care advice
• Wound care dressings
• Information and education to reduce harms associated with injecting
• Overdose prevention education
• Social support and referrals

For complex clients, the pharmacotherapy consultant/other nurse practitioner forms the core of the complex case planning and management team. Less complex clients will be stabilised and referred to other practitioners, with or without opiate pharmacotherapy treatment.

Primary Health Clinic is located at:

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The Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) provides a free and integrated service for people who inject drugs.  The NSP service is committed to providing a confidential, non-judgemental and accessible service.  No referral required.  Operates on a drop in basis.

The focus of the on-site NSP is to provide an extensive range of equipment under a Harm Minimisation Framework to:

• Reduce the risk to people who use substances, including risk of blood-borne virus and other infections, drug overdose, and the harms associated with drug use.
• Reduce the social impact on individuals, families and communities.
• Reduce the impact on the public environment (provide safe disposal of syringes, education on safe use and linkage to other community supportive services for healthier outcomes)

NSP Outreach

An NSP Outreach service provide sterile injecting and other equipment across the Cities of Greater Dandenong, Casey and Frankston.

Telephone: 1800 642 287
Operating seven days per week, 6:30pm to 10:30pm except public holidays

NSP dispensing machines

NSP dispensing machines are located at:

• Monash Medical Centre – Clayton
• Dandenong Hospital
• Casey Hospital
• Pakenham Community Health
• Springvale Community Health
• 122 Thomas Street-Dandenong
• Cranbourne Community Health

Want to reverse an opioid overdose?  We can help!

What is Naloxone?

Naloxone is a medication used to temporarily reverse the effects of opioid overdose. People at risk of experiencing or witnessing an opioid overdose can be trained to use naloxone.

How do I get Naloxone?

Naloxone comes in single-dose ampoules, a prefilled five dose syringe called Prenoxad and a single dose nasal spray called Nyxoid. Dandenong NSP can provide naloxone for free and train you how to use it.

What to do if I find a discarded needle?

• Ring the Disposal Hotline (24/7): 1800 552 355
• Call or visit the NSP during business hours to receive advice on safely removing.

Needle and Syringe Program (NSP) is located at:

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Southern Dual Diagnosis Service (SDDS)

SDDS is a multidisciplinary team of experienced health professionals who support:

• Public Mental Health Services
• Alcohol and Other Drug sector agencies
• Mental Health Community Support Services (MHCSS)
• The team aim to improve treatment outcomes for individuals who have a co-existing mental health and substance use issues. This is achieved by offering:
• Secondary consultations
• Networks and partnerships to improve treatment pathways and options
• Education and training for mental health, drug and alcohol and MHCSS staff
• Opportunities to discuss and review individual cases / issues related to dual diagnosis consumers.
• Support to organisations to develop dual diagnosis capabilities
• Primary consultations in collaboration with the primary case manager/worker, working within a harm reduction framework and providing comprehensive assessments of both disorders and treatment recommendations

The SDDS team can be contacted by calling the office on 03 9556 5255

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The Addiction Medicine Unit

The Addiction Medicine Unit has evolved from a 2002 initiative with Department of Health under the Hospital Admission Risk Program (HARP) to reduce presentations of patients to the emergency departments to a full specialist consultation liaison service. The current team is made up of Clinical Nurse Consultants, a Community Development worker, Addiction Specialist Consultants and rotating Junior and Registrar medical staff.

The Clinical Nurse Consultants (CNC) provide quality advanced assessment, care and discharge planning advice, and consultation for people of all ages presenting in the Emergency Department or inpatient wards with conditions caused or exacerbated by problematic drug or alcohol use. Community support is subsequently provided to people discharged from hospital where the substance misuse has been identified as likely to contribute to further hospital presentations or for ongoing treatment support.

The three CNC positions, based in Casey, Clayton and Dandenong Hospitals, particularly enhance expertise within the Emergency Departments and complement the availability of expert medical care for complex patients with AOD issues.

The AMU specialist medical team provides supervision and support to the CNCs as well as undertaking post-discharge outpatient reviews. In addition specialist assessments are undertaken in Dandenong and Berwick for people referred by general practitioners, medical specialists or other agencies for diagnosis or treatment advice. A limited Complex Pharmacotherapy service is also provided in Dandenong CBD.

For referral to the Addiction Medicine Unit please call 9554 8201 or fax 9554 8693.

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