Clients of publicly funded alcohol and other drug treatment
services are most likely to be getting help with alcohol-related
problems, although treatment for problems with cannabis, heroin and
amphetamines is also prominent, particularly among younger clients,
according to the latest report from the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare (AIHW).
The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia
2002-03 report shows that alcohol was the principal drug of
concern in 38% of treatment episodes Australia-wide, followed by
cannabis (22%), heroin (18%) and amphetamines (11%).
The report covers 130,930 treatment episodes across 587
government-funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies*, and
will assist with monitoring and evaluating the Australian
Government's National Drug Strategy.
More than three-quarters (77%) of treatment episodes were for
clients aged between 20 and 49 years, with males accounting for
close to two-thirds (65%) of all treatment episodes.
Just over half (51%) of all treatment episodes involved at least
one other drug of concern, in addition to the principal drug of
concern. Alcohol was a problem drug in just over half (52%) of
treatment episodes.
Counselling was the most common form of main treatment received
by clients (42% of treatment episodes), followed by withdrawal
management (detoxification) (19%), and assessment only (13%).
More than one-third (37%) of all treatment episodes involved
clients who were self-referred. In these cases, the principal drug
of concern was most likely to be alcohol (41%) or heroin (21%).
Report co-author Louise York said the report included a special
focus on younger clients, aged between 10 and 29 years, which
showed marked differences in younger clients' principal drugs of
concern, as compared with clients aged 30 years and over.
'For example, cannabis was the principal drug of concern in half
of all treatment episodes for 10-19 year olds and for almost a
quarter of episodes for 20-29 year olds, compared to 13% for
clients aged 30 years or more,' Ms York said.
'Younger clients were also more likely to receive treatment for
the so-called 'party drugs' such as amphetamines, ecstasy and
cocaine. These were the principal drugs of concern in 11% of
treatment episodes for 10-19 year olds, 16% for 20-29 year olds and
8% for clients 30 years and over.
'Conversely, under-30s were much less likely to seek treatment
for alcohol, which accounted for 17% of treatment episodes for
10-19 year olds and 22% for 20-29 year olds, but 54% for older
clients.'
*Agencies whose sole activity is to prescribe and/or dose
methadone or other opioid maintenance therapies are excluded from
the national data set.
9 September 2004
Further information: Louise York, AIHW, tel. 02
6244 1271 or mobile 0407 915 851.
Background briefings: Chrysanthe Psychogios, AIHW
tel. 02 6244 1068
For media copies of the report (12-page bulletin and/or
full report): Publications Officer, AIHW, tel. 02 6244
1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability of Alcohol and Other Drug
Treatment Services in Australia 2002-03: Report on the National
Minimum Data Set (full report), September 2004; and
Check the AIHW
Publications Catalogue for availability of Alcohol and
Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia: Findings from the
National Minimum Data Set 2002-03 (bulletin), September
2004.