How do I export data from cubes?
You can export data from a cube to a comma separated variable file (.csv) for use in other applications such as Microsoft Excel. Once you have the required data visible in the data cube, click the "Export CSV" button at the bottom of the window. Depending on how your web browser is configured, you will then either see the .csv file or you will be prompted to save it on your computer.
To learn more about the data cube, and how to use the software behind the cube, click on the help button 
inside the cube.
The cubes
About the cubes
Period covered
The cubes (except for the 2001–02 pilot) cover the period 2002–03 to 2009–10.
Counting unit
- The counting unit is a 'closed treatment episode'. A closed treatment episode refers to a period of contact, with defined dates of commencement and cessation, between a client and a treatment agency.
Exclusions to the collection
- Agencies whose sole activity is to prescribe and/or dose for opioid pharmacotherapy maintenance treatment such as methadone.
- Halfway houses and sobering-up shelters, correctional institutions, health promotion services (e.g. needle and syringe exchange programs).
- Alcohol and drug treatment units in acute care or psychiatric hospitals that only provide treatment to admitted patients.
- Private treatment agencies that do not receive government funding.
It should also be noted that:
- the number of Indigenous clients may be under-counted as most Australian Government funded Indigenous substance-use services and Aboriginal health services that provide treatment for alcohol and other drug problems do not supply data under the AODTS-NMDS. In addition, at the national level a substantial percentage of clients did not state their Indigenous status (varying from 5% to 8% over time).
- the data do not provide measures of the incidence or prevalence of alcohol or other drug abuse or dependence in the community on their own. This is because not all persons who abuse alcohol or other drugs seek treatment or seek treatment from publicly funded services.
Additional information
2009–10
- The number of episodes shown for Tasmania in the 2009–10 annual report is an over count. Resubmitted Tasmanian data is included in the supplementary tables. As such, Tasmanian data and national totals observed in the supplementary tables will differ from those found in the 2009–10 annual report.
2002-03, 2003-04 and 2004-05
- Queensland Health supplied data from Queensland government AODTS agencies and from police diversion processes (all with the principal drug of cannabis and main treatment type of information and education only) but not from other non-government agencies.
2002-03
- Data relating to police and court diversion programs have been included for each jurisdiction except Tasmania.
Accessing the AODTS-NMDS
If you require more detail than is provided in the data cubes, please read Section 7 of the Alcohol and other drug treatment services NMDS specifications: 2008-09: data dictionary, collection guidelines and validation processes. This section details the types of data that may be released and under which circumstances and relevant forms are included. If you require more information or assistance with the process, please contact the unit directly at .
Privacy issues
Due to the multidimensional nature of the alcohol and drug treatment cubes, extra steps have been taken to ensure the confidentiality of client data. These are:
- Individual ages cannot be viewed. The lowest level to which age can be drilled down to is the 5 year age group level (e.g. 10-14 yrs). All clients aged 60 and over have been grouped together.
- A variable identifying State/Territory has only been included in the 'treatment agency' cube to ensure that clients cannot be identified.