AOD treatment variation by remoteness areas

Nationally, between 2018–19, 2019–20 and 2020–21 there were notable changes in treatment service types delivered within remoteness areas, particularly treatment requiring tailored physical settings.

Figure COVID REMOTENESS1: Treatment episodes, by main treatment type and remoteness area, quarterly data, 2018–19 to 2020–21

The line graph shows the number of episodes with counselling as the main treatment type, by remoteness area. Most episodes were provided in Major cities across the period July–September 2018 to April–June 2021. The number of counselling episodes in Major cities increased from 13,870 in January–March 2020 (pre-COVID) to 14,882 in April–June 2020 (Wave 1) and 16,122 in July–September 2020 (Wave 2). Episodes then decreased 14,695 in April–June 2020, or Wave 3). A filter allows the user to view data for each main treatment type.

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Main treatment across remoteness areas

Changes in trends for main treatment delivered within remoteness areas are likely to be associated with the main waves of the COVID-19 pandemic:

  • Counselling provided in Major cities and Inner regional areas increased in Apr-Sep 2020 coinciding with the first and second waves of the pandemic. This continued into Oct-Dec 2020 before decreasing from Jan to Jun 2021.
  • for Rehabilitation:
    • treatment episodes provided in Major cities dropped from Jan 2020 to Sep 2020 coinciding with the first and second waves of the pandemic
    • treatment episodes remained low from Oct 2020 to Jun 2021 and did not return to pre-pandemic levels. This decrease likely reflects the continuation of health regulations during the second wave and beginning of the third wave of the pandemic, limiting bed capacity for services
    • Inner regional and Outer regional areas also showed similar variance in treatment episodes over the same period.

Treatment delivery settings across remoteness areas

Some treatment delivery settings in remoteness areas were impacted more than others likely due, in part, to the first three waves of COVID-19 public health restrictions and lockdown measures.

Figure COVID REMOTENESS2: Treatment episodes, by treatment delivery setting and remoteness area, quarterly data, 2018–19 to 2020–21

The line graph shows that most treatment episodes provided in non-residential treatment settings occurred in Major cities across the period June–September 2018 to April–June 2021. The number of episodes provided in non-residential settings in Major cities overall decreased from 26,113 in January–March 2020 to 25,228 in April–June 2020 (Wave 1), then increased in Waves 2 and 3 (28,154 in July–September 2020 and 27,307 in April–June 2021, respectively). A filter allows the user to view data for each treatment delivery setting.

Visualisation not available for printing

Changes in treatment settings within remoteness areas observed include:

  • Non-residential treatment settings:
    • are the most common setting for AOD treatments. Services located in Major cities were most impacted, with treatment episodes falling between Jan-Jun 2020 coinciding with the first wave of the pandemic
    • episodes between Jul 2020 and Jun 2021 increased in Major cities, reflecting provision of various treatment types adapting to different settings in some states and territories
    • minor variance in treatment episodes occurred in Inner regional and Outer regional areas over the same period.
  • Residential treatment settings:
    • located in Major cities were most impacted, with treatment episodes falling between Jan-Jun 2020 coinciding with the first wave of the pandemic
    • treatment episodes between Jul 2020 and Jun 2021 steadily increased, indicating easing of restrictions in some states and/or services adapting to pandemic restrictions
    • similar variance in treatment episodes occurred in Inner regional areas over the same period.
  • for Outreach settings:
    • treatment episodes provided in Major cities, Inner regional and Outer regional areas showed a notable decrease in Apr-Jun 2020, coinciding with the first wave of the pandemic
    • this decrease continued from Jul 2020 to Jun 2021, coinciding with the second wave of the pandemic.
  • Home settings located in Major cities and Inner regional areas showed the greatest increases in episodes provided in Apr-Jun 2020 compared with previous time periods, coinciding with the first wave of the pandemic and potentially reflects services adapting to Telehealth services. Episodes decreased between Jul 2020 and Jun 2021 (Figure Figure COVID REMOTENESS2, tables COVID.12-COVID.20).