- Excellence award for State Government's Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service
- Funded under the WA Recovery Plan
- WA Alcohol and Other Drug Excellence Awards acknowledge outstanding practice in the sector
The Mental Health Commission's Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS) has been recognised for its contribution to Western Australia's health professionals, winning the Excellence in Capacity and Capability Building Award at the 2021 Western Australian Alcohol and other Drug Excellence Awards.
The DACAS phone line provides WA GPs and other health professionals with
access to specialist clinicians for expert alcohol and other drug treatment advice at no charge.
Launched in 2020 as part of the WA Government's COVID response, DACAS expanded the remit and the reach of the Mental Health Commission's existing Next Step and Alcohol and Drug Support Line services. Health professionals from anywhere in WA can speak with an addiction medicine specialist for leading treatment advice and receive follow up information via email. The service is helping improve clinician confidence to appropriately manage alcohol and drug issues.
Building capacity and capabilities of GPs and other medical professionals means that treatment of patients with alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues can be safely managed in the community, improving health outcomes and reducing pressure on Emergency Departments and the hospital system.
DACAS has provided support to hundreds of health practitioners across the State, including GPs, pharmacists, and nurses with overwhelmingly positive feedback reflecting the value of the service.
The Excellence Awards are held to recognise outstanding AOD practice in WA, and were presented at the 2021 WA Alcohol and Other Drug Conference last month. Hosted by the Western Australian Network of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies, the two-day conference was attended by more than 350 people and was informed by the theme "Shifting Perspective: Alcohol and Other Drugs, everybody's story".
Comments attributed to Mental Health Minister Stephen Dawson:
"The success of the Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service highlights the McGowan Government's commitment to better outcomes for Western Australians by providing appropriate services closer to home where we know people recover better.
"The DACAS phone line gives health professionals across WA, including in regional and remote areas, easy access to leading advice on alcohol and other drug issues, helping them to treat people safely in their communities.
"Congratulations to the Mental Health Commission, Next Step Drug and Alcohol Services and all of the WA Alcohol and Drug Excellence Award winners. The very important work you do is having a significant impact to improve the health and wellbeing of people in Western Australia."
Minister's office - 6552 5800
Further information:
DACAS provides advice on patient management involving alcohol and other drug use and is available at no charge to GPs and other health practitioners throughout WA. More information is available at http://www.mhc.wa.gov.au/dacas
Anyone concerned about their own or another person's alcohol or drug use can contact the Alcohol and Drug Support Line on 08 9442 5000 or 1800 198 024 (country) for free confidential, non-judgmental support or advice.
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