Summary

  • In 2005–06, 664 government-funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies provided 151,362 ‘closed treatment episodes’ (see page 3 for definition). 
  • The median age of persons receiving treatment for their own drug use was 31 years. Of people seeking treatment for someone else’s drug use, the median age was 43 years.
  • Almost one-third (32%) of all closed treatment episodes were for clients aged 20–29 years, while more than one-quarter (28%) were for clients aged 30–39 years. 
  • Male clients accounted for two-thirds (66%) of all closed treatment episodes.
  • One in ten (10%) closed treatment episodes involved clients who identified as being of Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander origin.
  • Overall, alcohol was the most common principal drug of concern reported in closed treatment episodes (39%), followed by cannabis (25%), opioids (17%, with heroin accounting for 14%) and amphetamines (11%).
  • When all drugs of concern are considered (i.e. principal and all other drugs of concern), more than half (54%) of all episodes included alcohol as a drug of concern, while 46% of episodes included cannabis as a drug of concern. 
  • Overall, counselling was the most common form of main treatment provided (38% of treatment episodes), followed by withdrawal management (detoxification) (17%) and assessment only (15%).
  • Where the main treatment type was counselling, withdrawal management (detoxification), assessment only or rehabilitation, alcohol accounted for the greatest proportion of episodes (45%, 43%, 45% and 42% respectively). In contrast, where the main treatment type was information and education only or support and case management only, cannabis accounted for the highest proportion of episodes (61% and 32% respectively).