Alcohol is the most common principal drug of concern for which clients have received treatment for over the past decade
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
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Around 244,500 people received treatment for their alcohol use from publicly funded alcohol and other drug (AOD) treatment services between 2013–14 and 2022–23.
Released today, Alcohol treatment in Australia: Client characteristics and patterns of service use, 2013–14 to 2022–23, describes characteristics and patterns of treatment among people who received treatment for alcohol and other principal drugs of concern.
Around 3 in 4 (73%) received treatment for alcohol only. The majority of these clients received treatment in fewer than 3 years (84%).
About half (51%) of all treatment episodes were provided to around 1 in 4 clients (27%), who received treatment for alcohol and another principal drug of concern, with amphetamines and cannabis the most common.
Alcohol and other drug treatment services aim to support people by reducing the harms associated with alcohol use. Clients accessing these services often receive multiple episodes of treatment, with some clients requiring more intensive treatment (for example, more episodes of treatment over a number of years).
Age, sex and geography of people that received treatment for alcohol varied. People aged 40 and over were more likely to receive treatment for alcohol only, while younger people were more likely to receive treatment for alcohol and another principal drug of concern. Males were more likely than females to receive treatment for alcohol. People living in Major cities or Inner regional areas were more likely to receive treatment than those in more Remote regions.