Assessing and managing withdrawal is one of the core components of alcohol and other drug treatment.  This course provides an overview of the assessment and management of withdrawal for people who are dependent on alcohol and other drugs as outlined in the Queensland Alcohol and Drug Withdrawal Clinical Practice Guidelines.  Covering the five main substances of dependence (alcohol, benzodiazepines, opioids, cannabis, and methamphetamine), this training is suitable for all AOD and mental health practitioners and is especially recommended for Nurses working within these settings.

By the end of this workshop learners will be able to:

• Implement an alcohol and other drug assessment, focusing on identifying and managing potential risks across various substances
• Demonstrate a generalised understanding of the different substances including their respective pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics
• Interpret and manage the signs and symptoms of substance-specific intoxication
• Identify the signs and symptoms of substance-specific dependence and withdrawal
• Apply a patient-centred substance-specific withdrawal management plan that determines and manages potential risks.

Pre-requisite learning: ‘AOD and the Brain’ e-learning or ‘AOD in the Brain’ Workshop (Virtual Classroom Part 1 and 2 or the face-to-face workshop) must be completed prior to attending.

NB: This workshop is a prerequisite for the Advanced Withdrawal Course for Nurses.

This workshop is  facilitated by Kerry Mollenhagen – Nurse Educator, Townsville Hospital and Health Service.