How has the number and proportion of alcohol-related treatment episodes in Australia changed over time?
Alcohol was the principal drug of concern in 41% of treatment episodes in 2012-13. Since that time, it declined to a low of 32% in 2016-2017, and then increased again to 43% in 2022-23. The number of treatment episodes in which alcohol was the principal drug of concern has generally trended up during this period, from 63,755 to 92,417.
In Australia, alcohol was the principal drug of concern in 41% of treatment episodes in 2012-13, 40% in 2013-14, 38% in 2014-15, 32% in 2015-16, 32% in 2016-17, 35% in 2017-18, 36% in 2018-19, 34% in 2019-20, 37% in 2020-21, 42% in 2021-22 and 43% in 2022-23. .
In Australia, there were 63,755 treatment episodes where alcohol was the principal drug of concern in 2012-13, 69,491 in 2013-14, 61,504 in 2014-15, 63,237 in 2015-16, 62,438 in 2016-17, 70,859 in 2017-18, 74,744 in 2018-19, 75,005 in 2019-20, 83,552 in 2020-21, 87,334 in 2021-22 and 92,417 in 2022-23.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2022-23.
Principal Drug of Concern: The main substance that leads an individual to seek treatment from an alcohol and drug treatment agency (as stated by the individual).
Treatment Episode: A period of contact between a client and a treatment provider. Only ‘closed’ treatment episodes are included in the data used here. An episode is closed if there is a change in the principal drug of concern, main treatment, or service delivery setting; if the treatment ends; or if the patient is imprisoned or dies.