Alcohol and other drug-related ambulance attendances

Data on alcohol and other drug-related ambulance attendances are sourced from the National Ambulance Surveillance System (NASS). Data are available for New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory for the years 2015 to 2022. However, availability within this time period between 2015 and 2022 varies between jurisdictions. It should be noted that some data for Tasmania, the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory have been suppressed due to low numbers. Where data are available, they are reported for 4 snapshot months per year, specifically March, June, September and December. See the data quality statement for further information.

The following data visualisation shows ambulance attendance rates and numbers by selected drugs and months, by state/ territory, 2015 to 2022 (where data are available).

  • The highest number (and rate) of ambulance attendances, across all reporting jurisdictions and years, were alcohol-intoxication related.
  • Ambulance attendance rates were considerably lower for all other drugs reported (Figure AMBO1).

Figure AMBO1: Ambulance attendances, by selected drugs, months and states and territories, 2015–2022

This figure shows that the highest proportion of ambulance attendances in NSW between 2015 and 2022 were due to alcohol, peaking at 3,524 attendances in December 2020. The numbers fluctuate between the selected months of March, June, September and December across each year. A filter allows the user to select other states and territories in a drop down menu.