Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2016) Exploring drug treatment and homelessness in Australia: 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2014, AIHW, Australian Government, accessed 29 March 2023.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2016). Exploring drug treatment and homelessness in Australia: 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2014. Canberra: AIHW.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Exploring drug treatment and homelessness in Australia: 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2014. AIHW, 2016.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Exploring drug treatment and homelessness in Australia: 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2014. Canberra: AIHW; 2016.
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2016, Exploring drug treatment and homelessness in Australia: 1 July 2011 to 30 June 2014, AIHW, Canberra.
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There is much research to suggest a considerable overlap between people experiencing precarious housing, and drug and alcohol misuse. Linking client data from specialist homelessness services and alcohol and other drug treatment services, this report provides a picture of the intersection of these two issues on a national scale. It reveals a vulnerable population, in which Indigenous Australians and experiences of domestic and family violence and mental health issues were all over-represented. Their poorer drug treatment and housing outcomes highlight the level of difficulty faced in assisting these people to achieve long-term outcomes.
Clients of both drug treatment and homelessness services experienced high levels of social and economic disadvantage
There is much research to suggest a considerable overlap between people experiencing precarious housing, and those experiencing drug and alcohol misuse: many present both to alcohol and other drug treatment services (AODTS) with a variety of drug use issues, and to specialist homelessness services (SHS) either at risk of, or experiencing, homelessness. In an effort to better understand clients of both services, data from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Dataset (AODTS NMDS) and from the Specialist Homelessness Services Collection (SHSC) were linked for the period 2011–12 to 2013–14, allowing the identification of a 'matched client group' of around 40,000 clients—representing a significant proportion of AODTS (21%) and SHS (8%) clients.
This analysis examined the housing circumstances, treatment types, drugs of concern and service outcomes of matched clients and of their service populations (AODT-only and SHS- only populations). Within the matched client group, 4 cohorts were also examined: clients experiencing domestic and family violence; clients with a current mental health issue; young clients aged 15–24; and older clients aged 50 and over. Analysis of matched clients revealed:
Preliminary material: Acknowledgments; Abbreviations
End matter: Glossary; References; List of tables; List of figures
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