Treatment
This section contains information about the provision of medical/psychological treatment for cocaine use. It covers episodes of professional treatment for cocaine-related problems, who is most likely to seek help, and changes in these patterns over time.
The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set 2022-23 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024) is the source of data used in this section. It is the only Australian data source which provides a synthesis of state and territory data on publicly funded cocaine-related treatment.
What proportion of alcohol and drug treatment episodes in Australia are cocaine-related?
In 2023-24, cocaine was the principal drug of concern in 1% of all alcohol and other drug treatment episodes in Australia.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2025). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2023-24.
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.
How has the number and proportion of cocaine treatment episodes in Australia changed over time?
The proportion of treatment episodes in Australia for which cocaine was the principal drug of concern was 0% in 2013-14, compared to 1% in 2023-24. The number of treatment episodes for cocaine was 550 in 2013-14 compared to 3,166 in 2022-23.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2025). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2023-24.
Please note: No statistical significance testing has been conducted on these data. As a result, no inferences can be made about whether the reported proportions are significantly different from one another. From 2022-23, cocaine and MDMA have been grouped together.
Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
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.
Are men or women in Australia more likely to receive treatment for cocaine use?
Australian men accounted for 81% of treatment episodes for cocaine use in 2023-24, while women accounted for 15%. Four percent of clients did not identify as male or female, or did not disclose their sex.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (2025). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2023-24.
Please note: No statistical significance testing has been conducted on these data. As a result, no inferences can be made about whether the reported proportions are significantly different from one another.
Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
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.
Are younger or older Australians more likely to receive treatment for cocaine use?
Australians aged 20-29 years accounted for just over half (51%) of all of cocaine-related treatment episodes in 2022-23.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2022-23.
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.