Health Professionals

How we can help

The Alcohol, Drug, and Mental Health Support Service (ADMHSS) has a call-back system designed for health professionals to refer consumers who would benefit from speaking to a qualified counsellor trained in dealing with drug/alcohol and/or mental health issues. 

ADMHSS is not a crisis centre.  For emergencies, please dial 000.

Barriers such as social or geographical isolation can make it difficult for some people to access support services. Our call-back service ensures your client can access the support they need at a time and place that suits them. 

We can provide:

• Interim support to consumers waiting for face-to-face counselling/treatment
• A free call-back service to socially or geographically isolated individuals

Health professionals who request call-backs for their clients must ensure clients provide informed consent. To assist your client, you can choose a preferred date for call-backs to commence (please allow up to three days for the form to be processed). Other client preferences can be shared, including, if there is a preferred time (morning, afternoon or evening) for calls, whether or not we can leave a voice or text message if they are unavailable to take our call, and if they require an interpreter.

ADMHSS commonly receives referrals from hospitals, community mental health clinics, community alcohol and drug clinics, the Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Network (DAWN), and a range of other service providers.

Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service

We also provide a triage service to the Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service (DACAS).

DACAS is a specialist telephone consultancy service that provides clinical advice to health professionals on all issues relating to patient management of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use. The service is provided by experienced addiction medicine specialists and is available at no charge to all medical professionals in Western Australia.

DACAS will operate from 8.00am to 8.00pm Monday to Friday and the number to call is (08) 6553 0520.  If a call is received after hours, a message can be left and the call will be returned on the next business day.

Access to the service

The service is available to all health professionals in Western Australia including GPs, public and private hospital emergency physicians and other health professionals.

Information provided

• Clinical advice on AOD patient management within a general practice or hospital setting
• Management of withdrawal syndromes and intoxication.  Appropriate substance detoxification advice
• Management of medical, pain and psychiatric complications associated with AOD use
• Drug interaction information relating to substances of abuse
• Community treatment referral guidance

The DACAS service provides expert advice to assist in the management of AOD clients. However, the responsibility for clinical decisions about a client's treatment rests with the treating medical team.