Background
This report presents national, state and territory statistics about alcohol and other drug treatment services and their clients, including information about the types of drug problems for which treatment is sought and the types of treatment provided. This is the third report in the series of annual publications on the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS–NMDS) (AIHW 2002a, 2003a).
The AODTS–NMDS was implemented to assist in monitoring and evaluating key objectives of the National Drug Strategic Framework 1998–99 to 2003–04 and to assist in the planning, management and quality improvement of alcohol and other drug treatment services (see Grant and Petrie 2001 for historical development of the AODTS–NMDS). The AODTS–NMDS will continue to support the National Drug Strategy 2004–09, particularly as trend data become available in the coming years.
Since 1985, Australia’s drug strategies have been based on the principle of minimising harm caused by licit drugs, illicit drugs and other substances. The principle of harm minimisation incorporates harm reduction strategies to reduce drug-related harm to individuals and communities as well as supply and demand reduction strategies. No single data collection can provide all of the information relating to national treatment-related objectives. This report therefore also presents information from a range of other data sources to provide context to the AODTS–NMDS data and present a fuller picture of the current state of alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia today (see Chapter 7).
There is a general expectation that an appropriate and adequate range of treatment services will be accessible for all drug users and their families, regardless of age, ethnic origin, gender, sexual preference and location (MCDS 1998). The data presented in this report, in conjunction with other information sources, can be used to inform issues of access to treatment services as well as to inform debate, policy decisions and planning processes that occur within the alcohol and other drug treatment sector.
Preliminary material: List of tables; List of figures; List of boxes; Acknowledgments; Abbreviations
Highlights
- Treatment agencies
- Client profile
- Principal drug of concern
- Treatment programs
- Special theme - clients aged 10 - 29 years
- Data quality
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Introduction
- Background
- The AODTS - NMDS collection
- The 2002 - 03 AODTS - NMDS collection
- Recent drug use
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Treatment agency profile
- Establishment sector
- Location of treatment agencies
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Client profile
- Closed treatment episodes and client registrations
- Client type and jurisdictions
- Sex and age
- Indigenous status
- Country of birth and preferred language
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Drugs of concern
- Jurisdictions and principal drug of concern
- Sex, age and principal drug of concern
- Country of birth and principal drug of concern
- Indigenous status and principal drug of concern
- Geographic location and principal drug of concern
- Source of referral and principal drug of concern
- Other drugs of concern
- Injecting drug use and method of use
- Reason for cessation and principal drug of concern
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Treatment programs
- Jurisdictions and treatment programs
- Main treatment for selected principal drugs
- Client type, source of referral and treatment programs
- Sex, age and treatment program
- Indigenous status and treatment program
- Geographic location and treatment program
- Additional treatments
- Reason for cessation and treatment program
- Treatment delivery setting and treatment program
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Special theme - clients aged 10 - 29 years
- Client profile
- Drugs of concern
- Treatment programs
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Other data collections
- Background
- Monitoring alcohol and other drug problems
- Use, mortality and morbidity data
- National pharmacotherapy statistics
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Data quality of the AODTS - NMDS in 2002 - 03
- Introduction
- Data quality
Appendixes
- Appendix 1: Data elements included in the AODTS - NMDS for 2002 - 03
- Appendix 2: Technical notes
- Appendix 3: AODTS - NMDS treatment types
- Appendix 4: Detailed tables
- Appendix 5: Australian Standard Geographical Classification
- Appendix 6: Australian Standard Classification of Drugs of Concern (ASCDC)
End matter: References