[This document has been superceded by the 2012 document: Delivering quality care for drug and alcohol users: the roles and competencies of doctors. See link below]

This document attempts to outline and clarify the roles of doctors who work with adult substance misusers. It is intended to be a resource for commissioners, service providers and doctors, to ensure that medical support is appropriate in terms of training and competence, when planning and developing services.

This document reflects the findings of a working group set up jointly by the Royal College of Psychiatrists the Royal College of General Practitioners. The group had the support of the National Treatment Agency (NTA) for Substance Misuse and the Department of Health. It is intended as a resource for commissioners, service providers and doctors, and seeks to clarify some of the issues surrounding the employment of doctors and deciding which doctors have the appropriate competencies to carry out various tasks in the treatment system.