Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42272109›Full record

ArticleThe Medical journal of Australia2026

The Management of Withdrawal From Alcohol and Other Drugs in Australian Custodial Settings: A Consensus Statement.

Grace FitzGerald, Jocelyn Chan, Jon Cook, Mark Stoove, Michael Curtis, Suzanne Nielsen, Rebecca J Winter, Thileepan Naren

Abstract readConsensus Statement
In one paragraph

Article in The Medical journal of Australia, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Grace FitzGeraldDrug Health Services, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6131-5741
Jocelyn ChanDrug Health Services, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
Jon CookDrug Health Services, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.
Mark StooveDisease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
Michael CurtisDisease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1814-0867
Suzanne NielsenMonash Addiction Research Centre, Monash University, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5341-1055
Rebecca J WinterDisease Elimination Program, Burnet Institute, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2067-4278
Thileepan NarenDrug Health Services, Western Health, Footscray, Victoria, Australia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionFor many people entering custody, abrupt changes in alcohol or other drug use is associated with the risk of experiencing a withdrawal syndrome. Management of withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs in a custodial setting is complicated by both a limited evidence base and structural barriers to the delivery of best practice healthcare interventions to people in custody. MAIN RECOMMENDATIONS: A multidisciplinary expert panel representing all Australian states and territories participated in a modified Delphi process. The process generated 22 recommendations to custodial services, health services and government for the management of withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs in custodial settings across five domains: screening for withdrawal risk; assessment of withdrawal; management of withdrawal; specific considerations for the care of First Nations people; and organisational support. Notable recommendations include using universal and timely assessment for withdrawal at reception to custody; using validated clinical tools and evidence-based interventions to assess and manage withdrawal syndromes; and ensuring that the safest location for withdrawal from alcohol or other drugs is provided. CHANGES IN MANAGEMENT AS A RESULT OF THE STATEMENT: This statement presents best practice standards for the management of withdrawal from alcohol and other drugs in Australian custodial settings, as informed by evidence and expert consensus. Implementing the recommendations set out in this statement will improve the quality and consistency of withdrawal care provided to people entering Australian custodial settings and reduce harms associated with incarceration for people who use alcohol and other drugs. This statement has been endorsed by the Royal Australasian College of Physicians, the Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and Other Drugs, the National Prisons Hepatitis Network, the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia and the Australian Injecting and Illicit Drug Users League. The statement is also approved as an Accepted Clinical Resource by the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Indexed as

Health Services for PrisonersSubstance Withdrawal SyndromeAustraliaHumansPrisonersPrisonsSubstance-Related Disorderspolicy, drugs and alcoholprisonsubstance‐related disorders

Identifiers

PMID42272109
PMCPMC13254223

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC-ND
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.