Alcohol and amphetamines most common drugs for which people receive treatment

Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2016–17: State and territory summaries is a supplement to Alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia 2016–17 – the latest report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). It details a breakdown of services sought for alcohol and other drugs in 2016–17 across all states and territories.
 
Key findings of the report show that alcohol remains the most common drug for which people seek treatment across the nation, accounting for 32% of total treatment episodes, followed by amphetamines at 26%.
 
Cannabis tracked next at 22%, followed by heroin at 5%. Fifteen per cent of the population sought treatment for other unspecified drugs.
 
Alcohol and amphetamines were the two most common drugs for which people received treatment in every Australian state and territory, except the Northern Territory, where alcohol and cannabis were the two most common.
 
The fastest growing treatment area is for amphetamine use, with treatment episodes more than doubling in the last five years, from 22,000 in 2012–13 to 50,000 in 2016–17.
 
Counselling was the most common treatment type (40%) nationwide, and the most common in five of the eight states and territories.
 
The AIHW report includes a summary of closed treatment episodes (commencement to cessation of the treatment) for each state and territory for 2016–17.
 
Nationally, clients received an average of 1.6 treatment episodes over the year.
 
New South Wales

• An estimated 24,865 people sought treatment, with a total of 37,997 closed treatment episodes
• Alcohol was the most common drug for which people in NSW received treatment (36%), followed by amphetamines (26%)

• An estimated 33,610 people sought treatment, with a total of 67,150 closed treatment episodes
• Alcohol was the most common drug for which people in Victoria received treatment (29%), followed by amphetamines (23%)

• An estimated 33,541 people sought treatment, with a total of 44,396 closed treatment episodes
• Alcohol was the most common drug for which people in Queensland received treatment (31%), followed by amphetamines (21%)

• An estimated 18,099 people sought treatment, with a total of 24,383 closed treatment episodes
• Amphetamines were the most common drug for which people in WA received treatment (35%), followed by alcohol (29%)

• An estimated 8463 people sought treatment, with a total of 11,665 closed treatment episodes
• Amphetamines were the most common drug for which people in SA received treatment (37%), followed by alcohol (26%) 

• An estimated 2401 people sought treatment, with a total of 3389 closed treatment episodes
• Alcohol was the most common drug for which people in Tasmania received treatment (37%), followed by amphetamines (24%) 

• An estimated 3949 people sought treatment, with a total of 6389 closed treatment episodes
• Alcohol was the most common drug for which people in the ACT received treatment (42%), followed by amphetamines (25%) 

• An estimated 3459 people sought treatment, with a total of 5382 closed treatment episodes
• Alcohol was the most common drug for which people in the NT received treatment (56%), followed by cannabis (17%)

AIHW alcohol alcohol and other drugs amphetamines