It's time to tackle the addiction medicine specialist shortage

Australia is facing a growing addiction crisis with 1 in 30 people meeting the criteria for a substance use disorder, yet addiction medicine remains one of the least visible specialties with only 245 doctors and 68 trainees nationwide currently specializing in addiction medicine. A research team led by Flinders University says the solution could lie in boosting awareness, training pathways and early exposure to rapidly grow the addiction medicine workforce. With an average workforce age of around 62, many are nearing retirement, which raises urgent concerns about the future of this workforce.