How has the number and proportion of alcohol-related treatment episodes in Australia changed over time?
The proportion of treatment episodes in which alcohol was the principal drug of concern peaked at 46% in 2011-12, and declined to 37% by 2020-21. However, the number of treatment episodes in which alcohol was the principal drug of concern increased over this time period, from 67,370 to 83,552.
In Australia, alcohol was the principal drug of concern 46% of treatment episodes in 2011-12, 41% 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 and 37% in 2020-21.
In Australia, there were 67,370 treatment episodes where alcohol was the principal drug of concern in in 2011-12, 63,755 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 and 83,552 in 2020-21.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2020-21.
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.