‘Reducing stigma starts in the consultation room’

Doctors, researchers, and community leaders have gathered in Melbourne to discuss the nation’s response to alcohol and other drug (AOD) issues in primary care and the central role of frontline GPs. 
 
Last weekend, the RACGP hosted the 2026 General Practice in Addiction (GPADD) conference, this year themed ‘the bread and butter of AOD in general practice’.
 
Sessions across the two days included substance use and co-occurring family violence, self-care, burnout prevention and resilience training for GPs, party drugs and harm minimisation, and prescription opioids and opioid use disorder.
 
GPADD’s 2026 Convenor Dr Anne Saunders said the conference equips clinicians with the practical tools needed to provide compassionate, evidence-based care. 

‘Reducing stigma and improving access to care starts in the general practice consultation room. By strengthening primary care capability, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals, families and communities,’ she said.

‘The GPADD Conference has become a key national forum for addressing the complexities of addiction, promoting whole-person care and elevating the voices and needs of vulnerable populations. 

‘We know patients do better when care is accessible, coordinated and delivered without stigma. GPADD 2026 will help ensure GPs are supported to provide exactly that.’
 
The weekend also focused on the importance of medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence (MATOD) through general practice, as the RACGP continues its calls for scaled financial incentives for GPs who prescribe it.
 
The call comes as more than half of Australia’s 2005 drug-induced deaths in 2024 involved opioids.

In response, RACGP Victoria Chair Dr Anita Muñoz said every overdose death is a tragedy and represents a missed opportunity for early intervention, treatment and support.  

‘We know MATOD works,’ she said.
 
Treatments such as buprenorphine and methadone help people reduce or stop their use of illicit opioids, lower their risk of overdose, improve their health outcomes and support long-term recovery.

‘The evidence is clear that when people can access treatment quickly and close to home, they are more likely to engage in care and achieve better outcomes.’
 
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alcohol and other drugs AOD conference General Practice in Addiction GPADD