Alcohol and other drug treatment services in South Australia

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

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• Highlights
  • In South Australia (SA) in 2002-03, 50 government-funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies provided 7,440 'closed treatment episodes' (see below for definition of 'closed treatment episodes').
  • The majority of treatment episodes were for clients aged between 20 and 39 years of age (60%), with just under one-third of all treatment episodes (31%) provided for clients in the 30-39 year age group.
  • Male clients in SA accounted for just over two-thirds (67%) of all treatment episodes.
  • In SA, alcohol (47%) and amphetamines (20%) were the most common principal drugs of concern to clients in treatment episodes, followed by heroin (13%).
  • Of all closed treatment episodes in SA, counselling and rehabilitation were the most common form of main treatment provided (23% each), followed closely by assessment only and withdrawal management (detoxification) (22% each).
  • Over half of all treatment episodes in SA ceased because the treatment was completed (53%).
  • In SA, clients aged 10-19 years were more likely than clients aged 20-29 years and 30 years or more to seek treatment for cannabis (47%, compared to 11% and 5%).