This data briefing presents findings from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for NSW. The AODTS-NMDS is a nationally agreed set of common data items collected by government funded service providers of clients of alcohol and other drug treatment services.
In New South Wales (NSW) in 2002-03, 229 government-funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies provided 41,166 '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 (63%), with one-third of all treatment episodes (33%)
provided for clients in the 20-29 year age group.
Male clients in NSW accounted for over two-thirds (68%) of all closed treatment episodes.
In NSW, alcohol (42%) and heroin (21%) were the most common principal drugs of concern in closed treatment episodes, followed by cannabis (15%).
Of all closed treatment episodes in NSW, counselling was the most common form of main treatment provided (38%), followed by withdrawal management
(detoxification) (23%) and assessment only (17%).
Treatment episodes in NSW most commonly ceased because the treatment was completed (51%).
In NSW, clients aged 10-19 and 20-29 years were more likely than clients aged 30 years or more to seek treatment for cannabis (42% and 21% compared to 9%)
and amphetamines (15% and 16% compared to 7%) and less likely to seek treatment for alcohol (19% and 23% compared to 57%).
