Assessment only
Although all service providers would normally include an assessment component in all treatment types, assessment only episodes are those for which only an assessment has been provided to the client. Assessment interventions aim to reduce immediate or short-term harms; engage and support people; and refer people into treatment. For more information on assessment only see glossary.
In 2020–21:
- one in 5 (20% or 48,258) of all treatment episodes were reported as an assessment only
- around 21% of treatment episodes for people receiving help for their own alcohol or drug use received an assessment only as a main treatment; and 9.8% of treatment episodes were for people seeking help for someone else’s alcohol or drug use
- assessment only treatment episodes were most commonly provided to people whose principal drug of concern was either alcohol (36%) or amphetamines (24%) (tables Trt.3, Trt.32).
Client profile
In 2020–21, for clients whose main treatment was assessment only:
- almost 7 in 10 (68%) people who received an assessment for their own alcohol or drug use were male
- over 2 in 5 (44%) people who received assistance for someone else’s alcohol or drug use were male
- around 1 in 6 (17%) people who received an assessment for their own alcohol or drug use identified as Indigenous Australians, and 8% of people who sought support for someone else’s alcohol or drug use (tables SC.18, SC.20).