This data briefing presents findings from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) for SA. 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 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%).
