This page has been produced specifically to provide General Practitioners with the service and clinical information necessary for managing patients with drug or alcohol problems in Southwark. Additional resources, including clinical guidelines, policies and procedures and local and national services, can be found on the 'Practitioners' and 'Public' pages.
The Substance Misuse Management in General Practice (SMMGP) website is also highly recommended, as is The Alcohol Learning Centre.
Where to Refer Patients with Drug or Alcohol Problems
A number of specialist drug and alcohol services are available in Southwark. They can provide advice and information to, or accept patient referrals from, GPs. They will also work with GPs on the joint management of patients as required. Details of specialist drug and alcohol services are available here.
Additionally, a number of Southwark surgeries have been established as alcohol hubs, with specific resources for the management of patients with alcohol problems. Details of the Southwark alcohol hubs are available here.
Guidance and Other Information Documents for General Practitioners
The information for General Practitioners has been organised as follows:
- Comprehensive Guidance on the Management of Substance Misuse in General Practice
- Substance Misuse Services for Primary Care Settings
- Resources for Managing Alcohol Misuse
- Resources for Managing Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Misuse
- Resources for Managing Opiate Misuse
- Resources for Managing Cannabis Misuse
- Resources for Managing Blood-borne Viruses in Drug Users
- The Management of Clients Referred through the Criminal Justice System
- Referring Patients for In-patient, Residential or Day Programme Services.
1) Comprehensive Guidance on the Management of Substance Misuse in General Practice.
2) Substance Misuse Services for Primary Care Settings
The Southwark Primary Care Service aims to reduce the risks of harm resulting from all types of drug and alcohol misuse through a coordinated, multiagency plan care plan. This will encompass medically supervised substitute prescribing where appropriate.
The handbook defines the roles of each agency, identifies available resources and describes relevant policies and procedures.
The Primary Care Alcohol Service has been developed to provide support with assessment, management and consultation. This includes managing community alcohol detoxes and providing brief interventions and some ongoing support for patients who are at increasing and higher risk due to their alcohol use.
As part of this service, a number of Practices have been designated Alcohol Hub Practices, where patients with alcohol problems can be referred for assessment. Each of these Practices has a designated Alcohol Nurse. For further information and contact information about these Hubs please click here.
3) Resources for Managing Alcohol Misuse
This document includes the criteria for community alcohol detoxification and details of the detoxification programme.
This document is recommended as a tool for initial assessment of a patient's drinking behaviour. NOTE: For most effective use it is suggested that all questions are asked, irrespective of the answer to Question 1.
If alcohol use is perceived to be problematic then the AUDIT screening tool is recommended as a follow up.
A screening tool produced by the World Health Organisation. Full guidelines are available in the following document.
This document includes background information on alcohol screening and detailed guidelines for adminstration and interpretation of the screening tool.
An easy to use brief intervention on alcohol use that based on motivational interviewing techniques.
Two-page information sheet for patients outlining safe and unsafe levels of drinking and strategies for avoiding alcohol-related harm.
16-page booklet for patients and other lay people.
A simple tool to help in the management of problematic alcohol use.
4) Resources for Managing Cocaine and Crack Cocaine Misuse
A simple tool to help in the management of crack and cocaine use.
An easily photocopied four-page information sheet for patients.
An easily photocopied information sheet for patients on the management of cocaine/crack cravings.
5) Resources for Managing Opiate Misuse
Detailed information produced by the Substance Misuse Management in General Practice (SMMGP) Group.
A simple tool to help in the management of drug misuse.
6) Resources for Managing Cannabis Misuse
A simple tool to help in the management of Cannabis misuse.
7) Resources for Managing Blood-borne Viruses in Drug Users
8) The Management of Clients Referred Through the Criminal Justice System
9) Referring Patients for In-patient, Residential or Day Programme Services
Referral to in-patient and residential rehabilitation services must always be considered within the context of a structured care plan rather than as a stand-alone, 'quick fix' intervention. In consequence, referrors will be expected to fully explain the strategic thinking behind the referral as well as indicate what measures will be in place to support the client on completion of treatment.
Referrals for in-patient treatment should be made via the Inpatient Referrals Manager on 07810 815300.
Applications for funding for residential rehabilitation should be addressed to the Substance Misuse Team of Southwark Social Services, below.
Substance Misuse Team, Southwark Social care services
Lower Floor, Maudsley Hospital, Denmark Hill, SE5 8AZ
Tel: 020 7919 2403
Open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm
Alcohol Detoxification in General Practice
Criminal Justice Integrated Drug Teams and Treatment Interventions: Clinical Guidance to Maximise Access to Drug Treatment. National Treatment Agency.
Primary Care Substance Misuse Handbook