Summary
Highlights
In Tasmania in 2007–08, 16 government-funded alcohol and other drug treatment agencies provided 2,302 treatment episodes. This represented an increase of 3 treatment agencies and around 700 treatment episodes compared to 2006–07.
The median age of persons receiving treatment for their own drug use and those seeking treatment for someone else’s drug use (28 years and 45 years respectively) was similar to 2006–07.
Cannabis was again the most common principal drug of concern, increasing to 45% of episodes compared to 39% of episodes in 2006–07. Alcohol dropped to 32% of episodes. Amphetamines accounted for 11% and opioids for 7% (with morphine making up 5% of treatment episodes).
Counselling was again the most common form of main treatment provided (decreasing from 65% of episodes in 2006–07 to 54% of episodes in 2007–08). Information and education increased to 25% of episodes and assessment only treatments increased to 11%.