1. What exactly does CADS do?
2. What do you offer me?
3. But do I have a problem?
4. How do I help my friend?
5. What happens when I contact CADS?
6. How can I contact CADS?
7. I don't have any transport - what bus routes are you on?
8. How do I find my nearest CADS unit?
9. When is the CADS pharmacy open?
10. How do I make changes?
11. What’s best for me?
12. What can I tell you?
13. Harm Reduction... what's that?
14. Can I do my student placement at CADS?
15. What job opportunities are there at CADS?
16. What formulation of Methadone do you prescribe?
17. What is Buprenorphine/Naloxone or Suboxone®?
18. I have a complaint - who do I talk to?
19. How confidential are CADS Services?
20. What groups does CADS run?

 

What exactly does CADS do?  [TOP]

When you come in for your first appointment or drop in to your first clinic you will be introduced to a counsellor.  Your trained Alcohol and Drug Counsellor will then talk to you about your general health, your drinking or drug-taking history and your current concerns.

We’ll talk about how you think we can help you and look at a plan to help you make the changes you need to make.  This plan may include giving you something to read, making an appointment for another counselling session, referring you on to another part of the service or maybe leaving the next step over to you.

What do you offer me?  [TOP]

CADS can offer you one to one counselling and groups by trained alcohol and drug treatment counsellors, clinicians and staff.  It’s our job to give you the very best advice, support and direction that we can.

After the first conversation we may suggest you visit one of our specialist services, such as CADS Mt Eden.

But do I have a problem?  [TOP]

Sometimes it's tricky to know what the problem is or in fact if there really is a problem. CADS will help you work out any problems you might be having and then help you make a plan to reduce the harm those problems may be causing.

How do I help my friend?  [TOP]

We welcome calls from people concerned about someone else's alcohol or drug use.  Concern for a member of our whanau, aiga, or family is only natural. Often your pain seems greater than those you care for.

When you call we'll talk through your worries and offer you some strategies to deal with your concerns. We can help you find ways to help the person you're concerned about.

What happens when I contact CADS?  [TOP]

When you make contact with Community Alcohol and Drug Services (CADS) Auckland, one of our trained alcohol and other drug clinicians will talk with you about your concerns.

Together you will identify the next step.  This usually includes having a more in-depth conversation to complete a professional assessment of your current situation.  From here you can develop a strategy for the future.

We will give you the most up-to-date information on treatment options and other services that suit your needs.  We also offer support and information to friends, family members and health, social and education professionals.

Click here to Email Us Now at CADS or call us on 09-845-1818.

How can I contact CADS?  [TOP]

We know how scary it can be to make the first call.  We provide one phone number for you to make an appointment to see a counsellor at the CADS clinic nearest you.

Your doctor or health professional can also refer you to CADS.  Or you can drop into one of our CADS clinics during clinic hours from 10.00am to 1.00pm Monday to Friday without an appointment.

For media enquiries, please click here.

I don't have any transport - what bus routes are you on?  [TOP]

Please contact Maxx on 09 366 6400 or go to http://www.maxx.co.nz/ for information on public transport access to your nearest CADS unit.

How do I find my nearest CADS unit?  [TOP]

Click here...

When is the CADS pharmacy open?  [TOP]

Monday-Friday: 10am - 1pm

Saturday, Sunday, & Public Holidays: 9am - 12 Noon

How do I make changes?  [TOP]

At CADS we understand that it can sometimes be really hard to change the way you drink or take drugs.  We help you to make those changes by offering you our discreet free support, information, counselling and treatment services.

What’s best for me?  [TOP]

For those who prefer to talk to people of similar ethnic backgrounds we could refer you to our Māori or Pacific services.  We can also refer you to a range of services that may suit your lifestyle.  Or, for those who suffer from other mental health problems we have a Dual Diagnosis Service.  Alternatively, you may be in need of our medically based Detoxification or opioid substitution treatment services.

Whatever your needs we’re here to help you.

What can I tell you?  [TOP]

Many people are concerned that others should not know about their contact with our service, so we take special care to protect the health information you give us.  See How confidential are CADS Services? Click here.

Harm reduction... what's that?  [TOP]

"Harm Reduction" is a term used to describe what we at CADS work to achieve with you, our client, and forms a part of the New Zealand National Drug Policy Harm Minimisation Treatment Continuum (description follows): 

Harm Minimisation - A Continuum of Intervention Strategies
(Adapted from the New Zealand National Drug Policy Definition of Harm Minimisation)

"Harm Minimisation" does not dictate a particular legal, preventative, or treatment approach.  Prohibition, legalisation, abstinence or responsible drug use are all legitimate Harm Minimisation approaches.  Harm minimisation provides a range of treatment options to choose from.  CADS can work with you at almost any treatment assistance level, from Abstinence (if this is your goal) right through to Harm Reduction (see chart below).

Harm minimisation is a pragmatic public health and societal welfare-based policy. It accepts without moral judgement the fact that some forms of drug use will probably always occur in our society. It recognises that different Harm Minimisation approaches are appropriate for different drugs, people and situations. A Harm Minimisation focus also facilitates more readily achievable goals, and recognises the broad societal consequences of drug-related harm.

Harm Minimisation does not imply safety, but reduced risk.  It is also, incorrectly, seen as generally condoning or facilitating drug use, and preventing prohibition or abstinence approaches, which it does not do.

Harm Minimisation Intervention Options:

Based on:

(a) What is the level of Intervention required by the client?
(b) What is the progression of Intervention desired by the client?

Abstinence  No substance use

Primary Prevention & Education  This intervention aims to prevent drug use from occurring. Strategies include education, information, community education via media and sponsorship, community development initiatives, and legislation.

Secondary prevention  This intervention aims to prevent drug use problems by identifying and modifying potentially harmful drug use. Strategies include information campaigns on upper limit levels of adult alcohol consumption, working with individuals, families, schools, youth groups or peer networks, and Brief Intervention.

Tertiary prevention  This intervention aims to prevent drug use problems from getting any worse and causing even further harm. Strategies are aimed at people who present with an identifiable drug dependency, and includes drug treatment and rehabilitation, detoxification, counselling, substitute therapy (eg methadone, nicotine patches), family therapy, and self-help groups.  The goals of treatment typically include either the reduction or eventual termination of drug use over time.

Harm reduction  This intervention is aimed toward the active drug user who may not wish to engage in a Tertiary Prevention intervention.  Some examples of Harm Reduction interventions include Needle Exchanges programmes, reduced-risk sex education, and reduced-risk substance use practices.

Source Documents: NZ National Drug Policy, New Zealand Government, 2004.
Australian Drug Foundation – Drug Info Clearing House Australia 2005.

Can I do my student placement at CADS  [TOP]

We appreciate your interest in CADS as your student placement. We are able to offer placements to students who are studying in Alcohol & Other Drug (AOD) graduate and post graduate courses. Please consider the following checklist:

• I am enrolled in a Bachelors level or Post Graduate course.
• There are AOD papers as part of this course that I have completed.
• A portion of my placement hours can be completed in a group therapy setting.
• I am available for a least two days a week on placement if I require 100+ clinical contact hours.
• On finishing my course I will have completed the academic qualifications for a professional registration, e.g. DAPAANZ, Social Work.

To apply for a student placement, Email Us Now.

What job opportunities are there at CADS?  [TOP]

CADS employs clinical staff from a range of professional backgrounds. Most of our staff are Alcohol and Drug Practitioners or Nurses but we also employ people with other backgrounds such as social work, counselling, and psychology.

Generally, our preferred candidates for employment have:

• A relevant Bachelor level qualification, e.g., in health or social science
• An alcohol and drug specific qualification
• A relevant professional registration or membership

Alcohol & Drug Specific Qualifications

The education institutions that provide alcohol and drug specific qualifications in Auckland are:

• Auckland University of Technology (AUT)
• Wellington Institute of Technology (WelTec)
• University of Auckland

The National Addiction Centre (Christchurch) and Massey University (Palmerston North) also provide qualifications that can be completed through distance learning.

Professional Registrations or Memberships

We encourage and support staff to be aligned with the professional body that matches their training and career path. For example, Nurses will be registered with the Nursing Council of New Zealand, Counsellors will be members of the New Zealand Association of Counsellors. Many of our staff are registered with the Addiction Practitioner Association of Aotearoa New Zealand (DAPAANZ). You can check out the DAPAANZ website http://www.dapaanz.org.nz/ for information about how to join, as well as about alcohol and drug specific training programmes.

All positions available at CADS are advertised through the Auckland Health Careers website http://www.aucklandhealthjobs.co.nz/.

What formulation of Methadone do you prescribe?  [TOP]

Auckland Opioid Treatment Service (AOTS) prescribes the Biodone Forte brand of methadone which contains methadone 5mg in 1 ml. It is colourless, sugarless and contains no additives other than methadone powder and sterile water.

What is Buprenorphine/Naloxone or Suboxone®?  [TOP]

Suboxone is the brand of buprenorphine that is now registered in NZ which means it can be prescribed. It contains buprenorphine:naloxone in a 4:1 ratio. The preparation is a sublingual tablet that is placed under the tongue and it dissolves in up to 10 minutes depending on the dose size. It has no/little effect if it is swallowed.

The naloxone has been added to deter injecting. It has no effect when Suboxone is used as prescribed (ie sublingually/under the tongue) but if Suboxone is injected the naloxone puts you into withdrawal as it overrides the buprenorphine.

Advantages of Suboxone include:

• The physical effects of withdrawal are easier to cope with
• You can be dosed on alternate days e.g. you might get double doses to take on Monday, a double dose to take on Wednesday and a triple dose to take on Friday. There’s no need for takeaway doses.
• An alternative to methadone as not everyone likes taking methadone
• A feeling of being more clear-headed, less ‘cloudy’ than with methadone (though not everyone likes that clear-headed feeling)
• It’s less dangerous than methadone in overdose if it’s the only drug taken

Transferring to Suboxone

• If already on methadone, you need to reduce to a methadone dose of about 30mg to make the transfer less difficult/uncomfortable.
• If taking street opioids like homebake, poppy seed tea, turned morphine tablets etc then transfer to Suboxone can occur from these drugs without being prescribed methadone first.

Suboxone has not been granted a subsidy by Pharmac as yet which means that you will need to pay the full cost of the medication (unlike methadone which is free) if you are wanting it on a script from the Auckland Opioid Treatment Service or their authorised GP’s.

Suboxone will be available as an alternative to a methadone reduction regimen in the Medical Detoxification Service at Pitman House or through their Community Home Detoxification Service.

The tablet sizes are buprenorphine:naloxone 8mg/2mg and 2mg/0.5mg and are lemon-lime flavoured.

At this stage Subutex (buprenorphine alone) will not be registered in New Zealand. 

I have a complaint - who do I talk to?  [TOP]

CADS invites feedback including complaints as its one of the ways to review and improve our service. There is always someone you can complain to. If you feel put off by the first staff member you speak to, there are others in the service who are available to assist you.

• Your complaint doesn’t have to be in writing. You can tell somebody you want to make a complaint and they can record this for you.
• You don't have to give your name when making a complaint but there are some downsides to this: it means the service may not then have all the relevant information it needs to find out what happened and why, and you don't get to find out the service's response to your complaint.

What happens with your complaint?

• Your complaint goes to the manager of the service you are complaining about.
• The manager will send you an acknowledgement letter within 2 working days of their receiving the complaint.
• The manager has 14 days to investigate and respond to your complaint. If you are a CADS client, the investigation may include reviewing your file and talking to you and/ or any staff involved.
• If it's going to take longer than 14 days the manager will let you know.
• Their response to you will generally include a summary of your complaint, the findings of their investigation, and what they're going to do as a result of your complaint.
• If you're unhappy with the outcome of your complaint you can write to the WDHB Chief Executive Officer (CEO). You can also contact the Health and Disability Commissioner.
• If you don't want to communicate through the WDHB process you can approach the Health and Disability Advocacy Service and/or the Health and Disability Commissioner's Office.

Suggestion or complaint?

• If you have a concern but don't want to make a complaint, or you want to comment on something, feel free to contact any members of the Consumer Team on 815 5830, or use the suggestion boxes in each unit.

How confidential are CADS Services?  [TOP]

Your health information is kept confidential to authorised Waitemata District Health Board staff in accordance with relevant legislation (like the Health Information Privacy Code based on the Privacy act), however, information may be disclosed to others in situations like the following:

• To your GP, specialist or other healthcare professionals involved in your ongoing care for treatment purposes, your general health and well-being or in the event of risk to yourself or others.
• To government agencies when we are obliged or authorised by law to provide information, (e.g. ACC, the Police, CYFS, professional board)
• When you ask that we make information available to others (e.g. family/whanau and friends).

Health information will only be disclosed in accordance with the provisions of the Health Information Privacy Code 1994. 

What groups does CADS run?  [TOP]

Click here for more information.

• When you’re ready!