How has the number and proportion of cannabis treatment episodes in Australia changed over time?
The proportion of treatment episodes in Australia for which cannabis is the principal drug of concern is declining, from 24% in 2013-14 to 17% in 2022-23.
The number of treatment episodes for which cannabis was the principal drug of concern increased from 40,505 in 2013-14 to 45,043 in 2015-16, and then declined to 37,969 in 2022-23.
In Australia, cannabis was the principal drug of concern in 24% of treatment episodes in 2013-14, 24% in 2014-15, 23% in 2015-16, 22% in 2016-17, 22% in 2017-18, 20% in 2018-19, 18% in 2019-20, 19% in 2020-21, 19% in 2021-22, and 17% in 2022-23
In Australia, there were 40,505 treatment episodes where cannabis was the principal drug of concern in 2013-14, 39,363 in 2014-15, 45,043 in 2015-16, 41,921 in 2016-17, 43,269 in 2017-18, 41,160 in 2018-19, 40,305 in 2019-20, 43,553 in 2020-21, 40,210 in 2021-22 and 37,969 in 2022-23.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2024). 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.