Health Professionals

How we can help

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

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

Some callers may experience social or geographical isolation that make it difficult for some people to access support services.  Our call-back service ensures your client/consumer can access the support they need at a time and place that suits them.

A call-back referral can provide:

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

Health professionals who request call-backs must ensure clients/consumers must ensure they 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 alcohol and drug clinics, the Drug and Alcohol Withdrawal Network (DAWN), and a range of other service providers, e.g., community mental health clinics.

Drug and Alcohol Clinical Advisory Service

ADMHSS also provides 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 (private or public) on all issues relating to the management of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use of a client/consumer. 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.

Information provided includes:

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

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