Caring for patients with opioid dependence.

Australian general practitioners have a pivotal role in helping their patients with problems of alcohol and tobacco dependence, but have been less likely than their peers in the United Kingdom to be involved in the management of opioid dependence. This is despite the fact that most GPs are seeing opioid dependent patients whether they know it or not, and that GPs are ideally placed to manage this problem given the other advantages of the general practice context--continuity, accessibility, and whole patient care, including the ability to address other health issues.