Only 30% – 49% of Australians with substance use disorder receive treatment. So what’s missing?

Only 30% – 49% of Australians with substance use disorder receive treatment. So what’s missing?

According to updated epidemiological data, between 752,812 and 1,291,119 Australians meet the diagnostic criteria for a substance use disorder (SUD). When accounting for those who naturally remit or do not seek treatment, the potential treatment population ranges from 406,697 to 668,497 individuals. Yet, the number of people receiving formal AOD treatment is estimated at only 198,731—a gap of between 207,966 and 469,767 people who miss out on potentially life-saving interventions.

These findings highlight a persistent and significant treatment gap that echoes previous studies but now benefits from more refined data. The analysis, which utilised prevalence rates from the Global Burden of Disease study and comprehensive treatment data from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Dataset (AODTS-NMDS) and the National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Dataset (NOPSAD), reveals that less than half of those in need are actually accessing treatment. In practical terms, the figures show that only 30% to 49% of the estimated treatment population is served, meaning that many Australians with SUD are left without adequate support. This gap is especially concerning given the well-documented negative health and social outcome associated with untreated substance use disorders.

So what could help turn things around? The study highlighted the potential benefits of less intensive interventions. For many who meet the diagnostic criteria but do not engage in formal treatment, a brief intervention—delivered, for example, in primary care settings—could provide essential information, harm reduction advice, and a gateway to further support. While there is still debate over the efficacy of brief interventions for those with diagnosed SUD compared to at-risk populations, the analysis makes it clear that even these lower-intensity measures could play a crucial role in mitigating long-term harms and reducing the need for more intensive treatments later on. And while there are several limitations regarding the data used in the analysis, the findings provide a good baseline for understanding the current state of AOD treatment in Australia.

Ultimately, the persistent treatment gap calls for a significant scale-up in not just resources, but the right resources, and a rethinking of service delivery models. To truly address the unmet needs of people with SUD, treatment services must be doubled, and innovative, flexible approaches to intervention must be adopted. Only by ensuring that every Australian who could benefit from AOD treatment has access to timely, effective care can we begin to reduce the broader health and societal impacts of untreated substance use disorders.