Insights
Alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment agencies across Australia provide a range of services and support to people receiving treatment for their drug use, as well as support for their families and friends. There are many types of treatment available. Most treatments aim to minimise harm, often by stopping or reducing a person’s drug use, or changing their drug use patterns to be less harmful. Treatment can involve counselling, withdrawal management (detoxification), rehabilitation, diversion programs and pharmacotherapy treatments.
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The number of clients who received AOD treatment fell by 3.1% between 2023–24 and 2024–25
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In 2024–25 treatment episodes rose by 1.4% compared to last year
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In 2024–25, there were fewer clients overall, but on average people were receiving more treatment episodes, especially in Victoria, Queensland and the Northern Territory
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6 in 10 clients returned to AOD treatment in 2024–25
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Alcohol remains the most common drug that clients received treatment for (41% of all episodes), followed by methamphetamines (24%)
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Counselling remains the most common treatment provided to all clients, but this has dropped by 4.5% since 2016–17
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Between 2015–16 to 2024–25, the total number of AOD treatment agencies rose by 66%