Definitions for AODTS-NMDS data items 2001-02 to 2003-04

Indigenous status | Client type | English Proficiency Groups | Principal drug of concern | Main treatment type | Source of referral | Treatment delivery setting | Reason for cessation

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Indigenous status

An Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander is a person of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent who identifies as an Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander and is accepted as such by the community in which he or she lives. People who identify as Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander or both are reported as 'Indigenous' in the cubes.

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Client type

The status of a person in terms of whether contact with the service concerns their own alcohol and/or other drug use or that of another person.

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English Proficiency Groups (for 2001-02 cubes)

The 1996 Classification of Countries into English Proficiency Groups places every country into one of four groups based on the relative English proficiency (EP) of its recent arrivals to Australian from the 1996 census date. An 'English proficiency index' was used to rate each of the EP groups.

• English proficiency group 1 - are those countries that scored 98% or higher on this index and had an immigrant population of 10,000 or more;
• English proficiency group 2 - are those countries with a 'high' level of English proficiency (80-98%, or above but with an immigrant population of less than 10,000);
• English proficiency group 3 - are those countries with a 'moderate' level of English proficiency (a rating of more than 50% but less than 80%); and
• English proficiency group 4 - are the remaining countries, who have a 'low' level of English proficiency (those with a rating on the EP index of less than 50%).

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Principal drug of concern

The main drug, as stated by the client, that has led a person to seek treatment from the service.

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Main treatment type

The main activity determined at assessment by the treatment provider to treat the client's alcohol and/or drug problem for the principal drug of concern.

• Withdrawal management (detoxification) - refers to any form of withdrawal management, including medicated and non-medicated, in any delivery setting.
• Counselling - refers to any method of individual or group counselling directed towards identified problems with alcohol and/or drug use or dependency. This code excludes counselling activity that is part of a rehabilitation program as defined in 'rehabilitation'.
• Rehabilitation - refers to an intensive treatment program that integrates a range of services and therapeutic activities that may include counselling, behavioural treatment approaches, recreational activities, social and community living skills, group work and relapse prevention. Rehabilitation treatment can provide a high level of support (i.e. up to 24 hours a day) and tends towards a medium to longer-term duration. Rehabilitation activities can occur in residential or non-residential settings.
• Pharmacotherapy - refers to pharmacotherapies that include those used as maintenance therapies (e.g. naltrexone, buprenorphine, LAAM and specialist methadone treatment). Code 'withdrawal management (detoxification)' is used where a pharmacotherapy is used solely for withdrawal.
• Support and case management only - refers to support and case management offered to clients (e.g. treatment provided through youth alcohol and drug outreach services). This choice only applies where support and case management treatment is recorded as individual client data and the treatment activity is not included in any other category.
• Information and education only - refers to when there is no treatment provided to the client other than information and education. It is noted that, in general, service contacts would include a component of information and education.
• Assessment only - refers to when there is no treatment provided to the client other than assessment. It is noted that, in general, service contacts would included an assessment component.

In the 2002-03 and 2003-04 data cubes, pharmacotherapy is reported under the category 'Other'.

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Source of referral

The source from which the person was transferred or referred to the alcohol and other drug treatment service.

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Treatment delivery setting

The setting in which the main treatment is provided.

• Non-residential treatment facility - refers to any non-residential centre that provides alcohol and other drug treatment services, including hospital outpatient services and community health centres.
• Residential treatment facility - refers to community-based settings in which clients reside either temporarily or long-term in a facility that is not their home or usual place of residence to receive alcohol and other drug treatment. This does not include ambulatory situations, but does include therapeutic community settings.
• Home - refers to the client's own home or usual place of residence.
• Outreach setting - refers to an outreach environment, excluding a client's home or usual place of residence, where treatment is provided. An outreach environment may be any public or private location that is not covered by codes 'non-residential treatment facility', 'residential treatment facility' or 'home'. Mobile/outreach alcohol and other drug treatment service providers would usually provide treatment within this setting.

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Reason for cessation

The reason for the client ceasing to receive a treatment episode from an alcohol and other drug treatment service.

• Treatment completed - is recorded when all of the immediate goals of the treatment plan have been fulfilled.
• Change in main treatment type - a treatment episode will end if there is a change in the Main treatment type for the alcohol and other drugs.
• Change in the delivery setting - a treatment episode will end if there is a change in the Treatment delivery setting for alcohol and other drugs.
• Change in the principal drug of concern - a treatment episode will end if there is a change in the Principal drug of concern.
• Transferred to another service provider - includes situations where the service provider is no longer the most appropriate and the client is transferred/referred to another service. For example, transfers could occur for clients between non-residential and residential services or between residential services and a hospital.
• Ceased to participate against advice - refers to situations where the service provider is aware of the client's intention to stop participating in treatment, and the client ceases despite the advice from staff that such an action is against the client's best interest.
• Ceased to participate without notice - refers to situations where the client ceased to receive treatment without notifying the service provider of their intention to no longer participate.
• Ceased to participate involuntary (non-compliance) - refers to situations where the client's participation has been ceased by the service provider due to non-compliance with the rules or conditions of the program.
• Ceased to participate at expiation - refers to situations where the client has fulfilled their obligation to satisfy expiation requirements (e.g. participate in a treatment program to avoid having a criminal conviction being recorded against them) as part of a police or court diversion scheme and chooses not to continue with the treatment program.
• Ceased to participate by mutual agreement - refers to situations where the client ceases participation by mutual agreement with the service provider even though the treatment plan has not been completed. This may include situations where the client has moved out of the area.
• Drug count and/or sanctioned by court diversion service - applies to drug court and/or court diversion clients who are sanctioned back into jail for non-compliance with the program.
• Imprisoned, other then drug court sanctioned - applies to clients who are imprisoned for reasons other than code 'Drug court and/or sanctioned by court diversion service'.
• Died

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