Opioid Dependence Treatment Guidelines in Victoria

Key messages

In Victoria, Opioid Dependence Treatment (ODT) is delivered within a harm reduction approach that prioritises safety, wellbeing and ongoing engagement with care. Harm reduction‑oriented ODT is associated with retention in treatment and reductions in harms.
The Victorian Opioid Dependence Treatment Guidelines support safe, effective and person-centred prescribing and dispensing of opioid pharmacotherapy treatment across the state. Adherence to the guidelines ensures individual practice meets regulatory and medicolegal requirements in Victoria.
The Guidelines, consolidate multiple policy documents into one clear set of Victorian jurisdictional requirements for prescribers and pharmacists and supersede Policy for maintenance pharmacotherapy for opioid dependence 2023 and guidance for supplying pharmacotherapy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Victorian Opioid Dependence Treatment Guidelines take effect from 14 October 2026.

The latest revision includes:

removal of the ≤30 patient prescribing cap for buprenorphine
updated long-acting injectable buprenorphine (LAIB) arrangements, so the first LAIB administration may be observed by any competent provider (medical practitioner, nurse practitioner, registered nurse or pharmacist)
retention of COVID-19-era take-away dose guidance
continuation of provisions for short-term and longer-term third-party collection, with clear criteria and safeguards
expansion of Closing the Gap (CTG) PBS Co-payment Program, which can be read on the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care webpage
changes to the maximum number of repeats for ODT medications to provide up to six months treatment per prescription, which can be found on the Commonwealth Pharmacy Programs Administrator webpage

These guidelines are intended to be applied in conjunction with the National Guidelines for Medication-Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence published by the Commonwealth Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.

For further guidance on opioid dependence treatment, see the following resources:

Updated 15 October 2026