This literature review investigates models of shared care of illicit drug use in Australia and international primary health care systems, including models such as methadone maintenance, detoxification and needle exchange programs; collaboration roles and methods; evaluation of illicit drug shared care including opiate related overdose and deaths; Indigenous illicit drug shared care; attitudes of providers toward illicit substance use and particular practices, including attitudes to participating in collaborative work with other health and non health disciplines; and medical education for illicit drug care provided to general practitioners. The review appraises over 200 studies in search of evaluated models of illicit drug shared care, identifies eight such models, and finds that there is ample international literature describing encouraging programs that may have potential replication in Australia. Further research and development in this area is recommended.

The link to this review is no longer available. A copy is held by the JV Barry library frontdesk@aic.gov.au