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PHAAT
| About PHAAT | Information for Consumers | Get Involved | Contact PHAAT |
The Pharmacotherapy Advocacy & Action Team (PHAAT) is a group that represents the interests of methadone and buprenorphine consumers in the ACT.
PHAAT aims to:
Improve the range, choice and quality of services available.
Offer a mechanism for consumer input into relevant committees (eg. OTAC -the Opioid Treatment Advisory Committee)
Advocate on behalf of consumers experiencing problems or difficulties accessing or continuing to receive pharmacotherapy treatment.
Have a role in the training of community pharmacists, needle and syringe program workers and other relevant allied health professionals who deal with opioid substitution treatments.
Expand the number of places available for methadone and buprenorphine.
Advocate for the introduction of new treatments (eg. Heroin, injectable methadone, physeptone, fentanyl etc).
THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF PHAAT
The Pharmacotherapy Advocacy Advocacy & Action Team (PHAAT) has achieved some significant advances in its’ short history:
representation on the OTAC (Opioid Treatment Advisory Committee) including the completed review of the Opioid Maintenance Treatment Guidelines, which was undertaken throughout 2009.
the expansion of take-away provisions for stable consumers.
PHAAT works with the Pharmacy Guild to promote improved service delivery via community pharmacys.
contributions to the weekly radio show “News From the Drug War Front” that goes to air every Tuesday morning from 11am-noon on Community Radio 2XX 98.3 FM.
mentoring of young consumers to gain confidence in representing consumers interests on committees, doing administrative work such as minutes, agendas, articles for user magazines etc.
campaigning for the human rights of methadone and buprenorphine consumers.
advocating on behalf of pharmacotherapy consumers experiencing problems that range from financial matters (the ACT maintains the lowest consumer payment in the country) to issues of respect and professional service delivery.
Some history...
Formed in October 2008 the Pharmacotherapy Advocacy & Action Team came into being after an information session was organised for Methadone and Buprenorphine consumers here in the ACT. PHAAT was born!!
Since this beginning, PHAAT has been meeting on a monthly basis on the last Thursday of every month to discuss issues of relevance and interest to consumers. The philosophy of PHAAT is that ANYONE entering an opioid substitution treatment program has the right to have a say in all aspects of that program. This includes having consumer representation on the committee that oversees the program (OTAC -Opioid Treatment Advisory Committee), providing a mechanism for advocating for consumers who may be experiencing problems with their GP or Community Pharmacist and a mentoring system for young consumers.
PHAAT has participated in a number of information workshops and training sessions to educate consumers about their health and their rights, including a workshop put on by the manufacturer of buprenorphine.
PHAAT continues to grow and extend its reach and access to pharmacotherapy consumers. The future looks bright as consumers demand their seat at the table and contribute to improving the quality and choice of service delivery. If you do not fight for your rights they can be lost!!