Treatment
This section contains information about the provision of medical/psychological treatment for pharmaceutical drug use. It covers episodes of professional treatment for pharmaceutical drug-related problems, those most likely to seek help, and changes over time.
The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set 2019-20 (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2021) 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 drug treatment.
To ensure consistency with the source data, this section of the NADK includes the following pharmaceutical drugs:
- Benzodiazepines
- Codeine
- Morphine
- Buprenorphine
- Methadone
- Oxycodone.
What proportion of alcohol and drug treatment episodes in Australia are related to pharmaceutical drugs?
Pharmaceutical drugs† are the principal drug of concern in 4% of all alcohol and other drug treatment episodes in Australia. Benzodiazepines account for the largest proportion of these pharmaceutical drug-related treatment episodes (43%).
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2022-23.
Please note: Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
† This FAQ uses data from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Dataset, which defines the pharmaceutical drugs referred to in this question as: benzodiazepines, codeine, morphine, buprenorphine, oxycodone, and methadone.
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 pharmaceutical drug-related treatment episodes in Australia changed over time?
The proportion of treatment episodes in Australia for which pharmaceutical drugs† were the principal drug of concern has decline from 6% in 2013-14 to 4% in 2021-22.
The number of treatment episodes for pharmaceutical drug use have also decreased from 9,883 to 7,862 during this time.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2022-23.
† This FAQ uses data from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Dataset, which defines the pharmaceutical drugs referred to in this question as: benzodiazepines, codeine, morphine, buprenorphine, oxycodone, and methadone.
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 pharmaceutical drug use?
Australian men account for a larger proportion of treatment episodes for pharmaceutical drug† use than women (63% vs 37%, respectively).
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2020-21 (NCETA secondary analysis, 2023).
† This FAQ uses data from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Dataset, which defines the pharmaceutical drugs referred to in this question as: benzodiazepines, codeine, morphine, buprenorphine, oxycodone, and methadone.
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 pharmaceutical drug use?
Australians aged 20-39 years are more likely to receive treatment for pharmaceutical drug† use than other age groups.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia 2020-21 (NCETA secondary analysis, 2023).
† This FAQ uses data from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Dataset, which defines the pharmaceutical drugs referred to in this question as: benzodiazepines, codeine, morphine, buprenorphine, oxycodone, and methadone.
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.