About

What is Orticare?

Orticare is the Grampians Loddon Mallee Pharmacotherapy Network, one of five area-based networks in Victoria. We are working to create better access to pharmacotherapy services for all clients living in this region.

Our purpose is to support regional health professionals who are providing this treatment through workforce education, clinical support, consultation and promotion.

Some of the resources we offer are:

  • Access to training and education opportunities
  • Mentoring opportunities 
  • Addiction Medicine Specialists for consultation about complex-needs patients
  • Best practice guidelines, clinical information, business resources and supports
  • Local networks for doctors, pharmacists and other professionals working with alcohol and drug issues.

What is Pharmacotherapy?

Pharmacotherapy is an effective medical treatment to reduce people’s use of opioids such as heroin, Oxycontin and fentanyl.  It is also referred to as opioid replacement therapy (ORT), opioid substitution therapy (OST), opioid agonist treatment (OAT) or medication-assisted treatment of opioid dependence (MATOD).

Opioid dependence is a complex health condition that affects people from all walks of life—not only injecting drug users but also people who become dependent upon pain relievers because of a range of different circumstances. Long-term treatment and care involving medications such as methadone and buprenorphine have been proven to:

  • Reduce the use of heroin or other opiates
  • Reduce the rate of criminal activity in the community
  • Prevent the spread of blood-borne viruses
  • Assist people to stabilise their lives and lead more productive lives
  • Reduce illness and death related to drug taking.

 

In Victoria the most common way to access this treatment is through general practitioners, who prescribe the medication, and local pharmacists, who dispense it. Further resources on the evidence-base for ORT can be found at the following links:

This website uses cookies to ensure you get the best experience on our website. Learn more