Interactive alcohol and other drug treatment services data cubes

A data cube is a highly interactive method designed to explore a data set on a fixed range of variables. To learn more about the cube, and how to use the software behind the cube, click on the help button inside the cube.

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 interactive 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. If required, more information is available in help.

Links

2007–08 AODTS–NMDS data cubes

2006–07 AODTS–NMDS data cubes

2005–06 AODTS–NMDS data cubes  

2004–05 AODTS–NMDS data cubes

2003–04 AODTS–NMDS data cubes  

2002–03 AODTS–NMDS data cubes  

2001–02 AODTS–NMDS data cubes

About the Cubes

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 (8% in 2001–02, 6% in 2002–03 and 6% in 2003–04 and 2004–05). 
• 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.

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: 2009–10: 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.

Return to Alcohol and other drug treatment services statistics