People seeking to address their substance use can benefit from evidence-based treatments that help them to achieve their goals and change their lives.


Opportunities


Our region would benefit from increased availability and access to specialised counselling, support and rehabilitation services that deal with alcohol and drug use but also focus on other aspects of health and wellbeing.


Potential focus areas include:

  • education and prevention activities focused on young people
  • alcohol and drug training for health service staff, including general practitioners
  • peer support programs for health service staff
  • Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander workers trained in alcohol and drug care, especially in rural and remote regional areas
  • educational resources for allied professions such as police, youth workers and teachers
  • integration between mental health, alcohol and other drug services, and other providers in the primary healthcare system
  • Local Drug Action Teams
  • transport options and mobile treatment services for rural areas
  • after-hours treatment options for alcohol and drug cases
  • day and residential rehabilitation services
  • prescribers and pharmacies involved in opioid replacement therapy.


Collaborative partners

  • Hospital and Health Services
  • Local Governments
  • Peak bodies and service partners
  • Accreditation and training agencies
  • Regional Child, Youth and Family Committee
  • Queensland Network of Alcohol and Other Drug Agencies.


The outcomes of these actions will be seen in:

  • increased help-seeking related to alcohol and drug use
  • decreased rates of presentation of alcohol and drug cases to emergency departments.


Our progress

Consistent with the findings of the 2019–21 HNA, rates of drug and alcohol consumption are similar to Queensland averages across the region, but some regional areas have much higher rates. Support in these areas to promote health and encourage the use of mental health and allied services will continue to be important to deliver improved outcomes.


Related priorities

Providing primary mental health care - read more ›

Improving the health of vulnerable groups - read more ›

Improving the health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples - read more ›

Promoting health and preventing disease - read more ›

Alcohol and drug use

Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of chronic disease, injury and premature death (Schuckit 2009). Illicit drug use can have severe health effects, including mental health and death by accidental poisoning (overdose).


The social and economic impacts of the use and misuse of alcohol and other drugs includes increased criminal activity, engagement in risky behaviours, victimisation, and substantial financial costs on the Australian community (AIHW 2021e). 


Our area of focus

Rates of alcohol and drug consumption are very high in some of our regional areas, though moderate in the region as a whole.

Evidence

  • Around 33% of adults in the region were risky alcohol drinkers, meaning they exceed guidelines about the regular consumption of alcohol. This was below the Queensland average of 38%. Rates were higher in the Goondiwindi (44%), Scenic Rim (41%) and Western Downs (40%) regional areas (Queensland Health 2020).

  • Amphetamines (34%), cannabis (28%), alcohol (19%) and heroin (5%) were the four most common drugs that people in the region sought treatment for during 2019–20 (AIHW 2021e).

  1. support for an early intervention program
  2. integration of care between AOD, mental health, and GP service providers.
  3. integration between AOD and social services.
  4. intervention addressing the root causes of AOD use and addiction.
  5. deep and meaningful engagement and consumer-led service design.
  6. peer workforce support and training for AOD professionals.
  7. realistic outreach programs. 
  8. peer support programs. 
  9. flexible delivery of services, such as virtual support, afterhours services or offering the most effective approach to an individual’s situation.
  10. access and equity for marginalised communities seeking AOD treatment.



GO ›