How long does it take to access further treatment?
To examine factors impacting the time between an ‘Assessment only’ episode and any further treatment, survival analysis was used to estimate the probability of getting further treatment at different times after a client’s first ‘Assessment only’ episode in the study period. Clients were followed up from 2018–19 to 2023–24 and separate models stratified by treatment characteristics were fitted for each state and territory.
For more information on the methodology see Technical notes: Scope and methodology.
Important note on interpretation
A national model is not presented as it was not statistically valid, indicating that inherent variations exist in the operational use of ‘Assessment only’, likely reflecting differences in service structures and state and territory programs. Any comparisons between states and territories should be interpreted with caution.
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When clients do receive further treatment, most access it within 3 months of their assessment.
Among clients who received further treatment after an ‘Assessment only’ episode:
- 84% received further treatment within one year (365 days).
- two-thirds (65%) within 3 months (90 days).
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Time to further treatment depends on client needs, treatment availability and state and territory treatment practices.
Based on the client’s subsequent treatment episode, of clients:
- Who had a principal drug of concern of either alcohol or cannabis, 7 in 10 (70% or 69% respectively) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received withdrawal management treatment, 4 in 5 (81%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who were referred into treatment by either a health service or self/family, 2 in 3 (68% or 65% respectively) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received treatment in a residential setting, 3 in 4 (76%) clients received further treatment within 3 months (tables AO13–16, Figure 5).
The time it takes to accessing further treatment is dependent on the clients’ needs at assessment, or if there is treatment availability. Variability in referral sources indicates possible points of intervention and may serve as an initial motivator for further treatment, with referral pathways actively addressing client requirements. These different factors all influence the time it takes for clients to access further treatment. See Figure 5 to explore factors associated with the timing of further treatment.
Figure 5: Time to treatment for ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, by states and territories, and subsequent treatment episode characteristics between 2018–19 and 2023–24
Dashboard with 1 line graph and 4 interactive text boxes showing time to treatment by the subsequent treatment episode characteristics, filtered by state and territory and time to subsequent treatment.
How did time to further treatment vary by state and territory?
In general, while there were some similarities in the overall pattern of time to further alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment, there were differences by state and territory. These variations likely reflect the unique pathways within each state and territories, shaped by local programs, referral arrangements, and service models. Separate models had to be fitted for each state and territory. Any comparisons between states and territories should be interpreted with caution. For more information see Technical notes: State and territory ‘Assessment only’ data quality for state and territory differences in service structure and programs.
See figure 5 to explore the time to treatment for ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, by states and territories, and subsequent treatment episode characteristics between 2018–19 and 2023–24.
In New South Wales, of the ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, the majority (85%) received further treatment within one year, between 2018–19 and 2023–24.
More than 2 in 3 (67%) clients received further treatment within 3 months of receiving an ‘Assessment only’ episode. Based on the client’s subsequent treatment episode, of clients:
- Who had a principal drug of concern of alcohol, 3 in 4 (75%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received withdrawal management treatment, more than 4 in 5 (84%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who were referred into treatment by a health service, 3 in 4 (73%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received treatment in a residential setting, 4 in 5 (80%) clients received further treatment within 3 months (tables AO13–16; Figure 5).
In Victoria, of the ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, the majority (90%) received further treatment within one year, between 2018–19 and 2023–24.
More than 3 in 4 (76%) clients received further treatment within 3 months of receiving an ‘Assessment only’ episode. Based on the client’s subsequent treatment episode, of clients:
- Who had a principal drug of concern of alcohol, 4 in 5 (82%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received withdrawal management treatment, 9 in 10 (91%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who were referred into treatment by a health service, 4 in 5 (83%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received treatment in a residential setting, 4 in 5 (81%) clients received further treatment within 3 months (tables AO13–16; Figure 5).
In Queensland, of the ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, more than 3 in 4 (77%) clients received further treatment within one year between 2018–19 and 2023–24.
Half (51%) of clients received further treatment within 3 months of receiving an ‘Assessment only’ episode. Based on the client’s subsequent treatment episode, of clients:
- Who had a principal drug of concern of cannabis, 2 in 3 (63%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received rehabilitation, 3 in 4 (73%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who were referred into treatment by a diversion program, 2 in 3 (67%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received treatment in a residential setting, 7 in 10 (72%) clients received further treatment within 3 months (tables AO13–16; Figure 5).
In Western Australia, of the ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, more than 3 in 4 (76%) clients received further treatment within one year between 2018–19 and 2023–24.
Nearly half (46%) of the clients received further treatment within 3 months of receiving an ‘Assessment only’ episode. Based on the client’s subsequent treatment episode, of clients:
- Who had a principal drug of concern of alcohol, around half (55%) of the clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received rehabilitation, 4 in 5 (81%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who were referred into treatment by a health service, half (52%) of the clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received treatment in a residential setting, 3 in 4 (77%) clients received further treatment within 3 months (tables AO13–16; Figure 5).
In South Australia, of the ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, 2 in 3 (64%) clients received further treatment within one year between 2018–19 and 2023–24.
More than 1 in 3 (36%) clients received further treatment within 3 months of receiving an ‘Assessment only’ episode. Based on the client’s subsequent treatment episode, of clients:
- Who had a principal drug of concern of alcohol, half (51%) of the clients had a received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received rehabilitation, 7 in 10 (70%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who were referred into treatment by a corrections program, half (53%) of the clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received treatment in a residential setting, more than half (56%) of the clients received further treatment within 3 months (tables AO13–16; Figure 5).
In Tasmania, of the ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, 3 in 4 (74%) clients received further treatment within one year between 2018–19 and 2023–24.
Nearly half (44%) of clients received further treatment within 3 months of receiving an ‘Assessment only’ episode. Based on the client’s subsequent treatment episode, of clients:
- Who had a principal drug of concern of pharmaceutical, 3 in 5 (59%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received pharmacotherapy, 7 in 10 (69%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who were referred into treatment by a diversion program, 3 in 5 (59%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received treatment in an outreach setting, 3 in 5 (59%) clients received further treatment within 3 months (tables AO13–16; Figure 5).
In the Australian Capital Territory, of the ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, the majority (81%) received further treatment within one year between 2018–19 and 2023–24.
More than half (54%) of clients received further treatment within 3 months of receiving an ‘Assessment only’ episode. Based on the client’s subsequent treatment episode, of clients:
- Who had a principal drug of concern of methamphetamine or heroin, over half (56% and 56% respectively) of the clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received rehabilitation, 3 in 4 (77%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who were referred into treatment by self or family, 3 in 5 (60%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received treatment in a residential setting, 2 in 3 (66%) clients received further treatment within 3 months (tables AO13–16; Figure 5).
In the Northern Territory, of the ‘Assessment only’ clients who received further treatment, the majority (85%) received further treatment within one year between 2018–19 and 2023–24.
Two in 3 (66%) clients received further treatment within 3 months of receiving an ‘Assessment only’ episode. Based on the client’s subsequent episode, of clients:
- Who had a principal drug of concern of cannabis, 3 in 4 (73%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received withdrawal management, most (85%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who were referred into treatment by a self or family, 3 in 4 (77%) clients received further treatment within 3 months.
- Who received treatment in a non-residential setting, 7 in 10 (72%) clients received further treatment within 3 months (tables AO13–16; Figure 5).