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Almost 7% of the disease burden in Australia is attributable to alcohol and other drug use. Worldwide, alcohol is the seventh leading risk factor for premature death. Substance use resulted in 18 million years of healthy life lost in 2019, with negative health, social and economic outcomes for individuals, families, and communities. Almost one million Australians (4.3% of the population) met International Classification of Diseases criteria for an active substance use disorder in 2019, including users of alcohol (494 000), cannabis (170 000), amphetamine/methamphetamine (135 000), opioids (114 000), and cocaine (60 000).

According to data collected for the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS NMDS), publicly funded services provided about 225 000 treatment episodes in Australia during 2020–21 (62% of all episodes; ie, excluding episodes in private and primary care), including 50 917 in NSW (23%). The principal drugs of concern were alcohol (36%), amphetamine-type stimulants (23%), cannabis (22%), opioids (including heroin; 7%), and cocaine (1.4%). These proportions were similar in New South Wales (38%, 22%, 18%, 9%, 3% respectively).

This MJA research shares more. 

Learning Outcomes

1. Explain key components of the research
2. List main findings
3. Identify potential drug concerns for patients seeking help to facilitate a more person-centred care.

Details

Author: Emma Black, Raimondo Bruno, Kristie Mammen, Llewellyn Mills, Krista J Siefried, Rachel M Deacon, Anthony Shakeshaft, Adrian J Dunlop, Nadine Ezard, Mark Montebello, Steven Childs, David Reid, Jennifer Holmes and Nicholas Lintzeris

Article Type: Research