Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Victoria

Findings from the National Minimum Data Set (NMDS) 2002 - 03 for Victoria

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• Highlights
  • In Victoria in 2002-03, 148 government-funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies and outlets provided 45,306 'closed treatment episodes' (see below for the definition of 'closed treatment episodes').
  • The majority of closed treatment episodes were for clients aged between 20 and 39 years of age (62%), with over one-third of all treatment episodes (35%) provided for clients in the 20-29 year age group
  • Male clients in Victoria accounted for nearly two-thirds (63%) of all closed treatment episodes.
  • In Victoria, alcohol (37%) and heroin (25%) were the most common principal drugs of concern in closed treatment episodes, followed by cannabis (22%).
  • Of all treatment episodes in Victoria, counselling was the most common form of main treatment provided (49%), followed by withdrawal management (detoxification) (21%).
  • In Victoria, clients aged 10-19 and 20-29 years were more likely than clients aged 30 years or more to seek treatment for cannabis (40% and 26%, compared to 13%) and less likely to seek treatment for alcohol (19% and 21%, compared to 53%).