The 2017 RDWA Annual GP Conference was held 19-20 May.

In your daily life as a country doctor, drugs are something that are a constant in your practice and in your discussion with your patients.

From the illegal drug epidemic facing communities, to the use and misuse of prescription drugs, and the management of co-morbidities, there is a lot to know and even more to manage as a rural GP.

This year’s conference was all about drugs.

Our aim was to bring you the latest information and resources across the spectrum of drugs, drug prescription and drug use.

We built a program based on your feedback that included issues faced every day; from chronic pain management, stroke management, dealing with older and younger patients, managing athletes and drug testing, prescribing methadone, the newest drugs in general practice, and a special session on the prevalence of Ice in rural South Australia.

There was a pre-conference obstetrics workshop on Friday morning, focused on managing pre-natal care for the first 20 weeks and postpartum care.

The Family Program had a brimming agenda, with activities for children of all ages and something for parents and partners.

After a full weekend, everyone was ready to let down their hair and do some ‘boot scooting’ at the Conference Dinner on Saturday night with the Wild Matildas Bush Band providing the entertainment.