Time for Change Survey and Report

40 “[There is] a much needed revamping of the opioid substitution/treatment program, specifically including hydromorphone and diacetylmorphine as treatment options for patients who were unable to stabilise on methadone or suboxone, or for those for whom it di d not work.” “I believe methadone/bupe programs should be free & easier to access than they are currently & that there should be options for people who wish to stop using ice/speed. Ultimately I believe there should be medicinal heroin provided (as those programs worke d successfully 50yrs ago in the UK).” Recommendation #15 We recommend that governments urgently expand Opioid Treatment Programs (OTP) for under-served communities and areas, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and regional and rural communities including increased funding for accessible, culturally safe, and community-led treatment options, along with incentives to recruit and retain healthcare providers. Investment in therapeutic purposes of drugs Just over three-quarters (76.2%) of respondents agreed or strongly agreed that there should be greater investment in the therapeutic purposes of currently illicit drugs (e.g., the use of MDMA, psilocybin, and ketamine for treating mental health conditions). Overall, 12.5% of people neither agreed nor disagreed with this policy topic, with more professionals (10.6%) and family members of people who use drugs (13.9%) selecting “neutral”. As shown in Figure 7, support was reasonably consistent among friends of people who use drugs (86.5% agree/strongly agree), people who use drugs (85.6%), and students and/or young people (83.9%), with slightly lower support from professionals (79.2%) and family members of people who use drugs (75.7%). People also commented their views on the availability of therapies utilising ketamine and psychedelics: “I'm a strong proponent of ketamine for mental health treatment and support it being approved for at home ketamine therapy” “Making psychedelic assisted therapy more readily available to the wider community instead of being so damn expensive, and having to meet such a strict criteria”