Summary
In South Australia (SA) in 2007–08, 49 government and non-government funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies provided 9,030 treatment episodes. This represented an increase of 5 treatment agencies and almost the same number of treatment episodes compared to 2006–07. The median age of persons receiving treatment for their own drug use and those seeking treatment in relation to someone else’s drug use was similar to 2006–07 (34 years and 45 years respectively).
Alcohol was again the most common principal drug of concern (53%), followed by amphetamines (16%). Cannabis (10%) replaced heroin (8%) as the third most common principal drug of concern this year.
Assessment only episodes accounted for 5% more of the total treatment for South Australia in 2007–08 compared to 2006–07. Assessment only became the most common form of main treatment provided (30% of episodes), followed by counselling (26%), withdrawal management (detoxification) (19%) and rehabilitation (16%).