Sydney Addiction Seminars: NSW Alcohol Interlock Program & Fitness to Drive Medical Assessments

In the first Sydney Addiction Seminar for 2023 we take a look at the NSW Alcohol Interlock Program & Fitness to Drive Medical Assessments. When does a substance use disorder make a person unfit to drive?
How can you certify a substance dependent person fit to drive? Who should do fitness to drive medical assessments?

Joining the session will be Prof Kate Conigrave Prof Kate Conigrave (Senior staff specialist, SLHD Drug Health Services & Professor of Addiction Medicine at the University of Sydney) who will discuss the key aspects of the NSW Alcohol Interlock Program and the involvement of GPs and other health professionals in this program for drink driving offenders. Following this, Dr Craig Sadler (Director Alcohol and Drug Unit/Withdrawal Services at the Calvary Mater Hospital in Newcastle & Conjoint Senior Lecturer at the University of Newcastle), will provide a brief overview and discussion on medical assessment for fitness to drive and what role that medical professionals have in this program. This session was facilitated by Dr Richard Hallinan of Drug Health Services, South Eastern Sydney LHD.

Suggested readings and resources:
Section 9. Substance misuse in Austroads Assessing Fitness to Drive 2022. See: https://austroads.com.au/__data/asset...

Ogden EJD, et al, (2018) When should the driver with a history of substance misuse be allowed to return to the wheel? A review of the substance misuse section of the Australian national guidelines. Intern Med J. Aug;48(8):908-915. See: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/1...

NSW Alcohol Interlock Program, Transport for NSW: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boatin...

Assessing fitness to drive (For health professionals), Transport for NSW: https://www.nsw.gov.au/driving-boatin...