Alcohol treatment in Australia: Client characteristics and patterns of service use, 2013–14 to 2022–23

Who received treatment for alcohol?

Client characteristics 

Clients who received treatment for alcohol only were more likely to be older when they first received treatment than those receiving treatment for alcohol and another principal drug of concern (PDOC). Between 2013–14 and 2022–23:

• Clients who received treatment for alcohol only were more likely to be older (aged 30–49) when they first received treatment and this was observed in all 3 treatment cohorts: non-recurring (47%), recurring (58%) or intensive (63%).
• Clients who received treatment for alcohol and another principal drug of concern (PDOC) were more likely to be younger (aged 10–29) when they first received treatment and this was observed in all 3 cohorts: non-recurring (46%), recurring (47%) and intensive (45%).

Clients who received treatment for either alcohol only or alcohol and another PDOC were more likely to be male than female in all 3 treatment cohorts. Between 2013–14 and 2022–23:

• Clients who were male were more likely to receive non-recurring treatment for alcohol only or alcohol and another PDOC (67% and 72%, respectively) than recurring treatment (62% and 71%, respectively) or intensive (56% and 60%, respectively).
• In contrast, clients who were female were more likely to receive intensive treatment for alcohol only or alcohol and another PDOC (44% and 40%, respectively) than non-recurring treatment (33% and 28%, respectively) or recurring (38% and 29%, respectively). 
• The proportion of female clients increased in the intensive treatment cohort for both alcohol only and alcohol and another PDOC, narrowing the gap considerably (male clients being 1.3 to 1.5 times as likely as female clients to receive intensive treatment compared to being twice as likely for non-recurring treatment).

Clients who received treatment for alcohol only or alcohol and another PDOC were most likely to live in Major cities, although there were differences in the proportions of clients treated for alcohol, particularly for non-recurring and recurring cohorts. Between 2013–14 and 2022–23:

• Most clients who received treatment for alcohol only lived in Major cities and most of these clients received non-recurring treatment (87%).
• Most clients who received treatment for alcohol and another PDOC lived in Major cities and most of these clients received either non-recurring (45%) or recurring treatment (44%).
• For clients in the intense treatment cohort, a higher proportion of clients in all remoteness areas were treated for alcohol and another PDOC (4–11%) compared to alcohol only (1–2%) (Figure client characteristics 1, tables alcohol treatment 2–4).

Figure client characteristics 1: Clients who ever received treatment for alcohol by treatment intensity, sex, age group and remoteness, 2013–14 to 2022–23

What are the characteristics of treatment episodes for alcohol?

Episode characteristics 

Analysis of treatment episode data describes how clients were referred to treatment, the main treatment types provided, and principal drug of concern for which clients received treatment. This data provides insights into common patterns of engagement with alcohol and other drug (AOD) services. Between 2013–14 and 2022–23:

• Withdrawal management was the most common treatment type for the intensive treatment cohort treated for alcohol only (26%, or 12,706 episodes). 
  • Withdrawal management was the second most common treatment type for recurring treatment for alcohol only (17%, or 19,802 episodes) following counselling (40%, or 46,197 episodes).
• Counselling was the most common treatment type for alcohol and another PDOC for intensive, recurring, and non-recurring treatment cohorts (24%, or 36,114 episodes; 40% or 73,568; and 40% or 34,701, respectively). This was closely followed by withdrawal treatment (21%, or 31,090) for the intensive treatment cohort.
• For all clients, self/family was the most common source of referral, non-residential treatment settings were the most common treatment delivery setting and expected/planned completion was the most common reason for cessation.
• Corrections or diversion were each the source of referral for more than 1 in 10 episodes for non-recurring (11%, or 9,972 and 13% or, 11,386, respectively) and recurring treatment episodes for alcohol and another PDOC (13%, or 23,527 and 10% or, 18,560). For intensive treatment episodes for alcohol and another PDOC, corrections or diversion were the source of referral in around 5% of episodes (5%, or 7,619 and 5%, or 7,175, respectively)
• Where treatment episodes ended due to unplanned completion this was most common for non-recurring treatment or recurring episodes for alcohol only (22%, or 25,038 and 20%, or 50,824 respectively) or alcohol and another PDOC (23%, or 23,932 and 19%, or 17,029 respectively).
• A greater proportion of intensive treatment episodes for alcohol only or alcohol and another PDOC were short, 1–29 days (42%, or 20,943 and 39%, or 58,330 respectively), compared to episodes provided to clients who received non-recurring or recurring treatment.
• For the intensive and recurring treatment cohorts who received treatment for alcohol and another PDOC, the most common other PDOCs were amphetamines (22%, or 33,471 and 23%, or 42,244 respectively) followed by cannabis (14%, or 20,293 and 17%, or 30,711 respectively). For the non-recurring treatment cohort, the most common other PDOCs were cannabis (19%, or 16,721) followed by amphetamines (14%, or 12,601) (Figure episode characteristics 1, tables alcohol treatment 5–10).

Figure episode characteristics 1: Episode characteristics for alcohol treatment by main treatment type, source of referral, treatment delivery setting and treatment duration 2013–14 to 2022–23