Department of Health

Key messages

  • The Victorian Government funds a range of research into alcohol and other drugs issues.
  • The programs provide data about attitudes, pattern of usage and alcohol and drug-related harm across Victoria.
  • AODstats provides the most up-to-date data about harms related to alcohol, illicit and pharmaceutical drug use in Victoria.

Research and data on alcohol and other drug use

The Victorian Government funds a range of research into alcohol and other drug issues. This research provides data about attitudes, pattern of usage and alcohol and drug-related harm across Victoria.

Sources of alcohol and other drug data

AODstats

AODstatsExternal Link is an interactive statistics and mapping webpage that provides information on the harms related to alcohol, illicit and pharmaceutical drug use in Victoria.

The information can be searched by local government area or for the state of Victoria. Data is obtained from multiple sources and is the most recent data available.

AODstats superseded the Victorian Alcohol Statistics Series and Victorian Drug Statistics handbooks in 2014. It is produced by Turning Point with funding provided by the Department of Health & Human Services.

The Victorian Alcohol Statistics and Drug Statistics handbooks present information about alcohol and other drug related harms and use across Victoria. The series use datasets on alcohol sales, hospital admissions, deaths, road accidents, crime, alcohol and other drug related ambulance attendances and calls to DirectLine.

The series was produced by Turning Point with funding provided by the department.

Substance use in Victorian secondary school students

In 2017, approximately 4450 Victorian secondary students aged between 12-17 years were surveyed on their use and attitudes related to tobacco, alcohol, over the counter and illicit substances.

The Australian Secondary Students' Alcohol and Drug Survey has been conducted in Victoria every three years since 1984, and is part of a broader national study that takes place in schools across Australia. It aims to examine trends in licit and illicit substance use, and identify emerging substances and issues of concern in secondary schools.

The 2017 survey was the twelfth survey in the series. It provides details on the patterns of use of a wide range of licit and illicit substances, including alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, amphetamines, methamphetamines, dexamphetamines, hallucinogens, cocaine, GHB, ecstasy, opiates, performance enhancing drugs, tranquilisers, ketamine, inhalants and analgesics.

Results from the 2017 survey can be found in the Downloads section.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is funded by the Commonwealth Government to provide regular statistics on the health and wellbeing of the Australian population.

The AIHW publishes data from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS-NMDS) on client profiles, drug treatment agencies, trends in drug use and treatment.

Trends in alcohol and drug treatment services are summarised in the annual Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services in Australia report. National trends are analysed and compared to data provided by State government services.

Additionally, the AIHW publishes reports on:

  • national opioid pharmacotherapy statistics
  • the national drug strategy household survey
  • alcohol and other drug treatment and diversion from the Australian criminal justice system.

Reviewed 09 May 2023

Health.vic

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