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
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AODstats superseded the Victorian Alcohol Statistics Series and Victorian Drug Statistics handbooks in 2014.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.
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 2022/23, approximately 2000 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 (with the exception of 2020 due to COVID-19), 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 survey is conducted by Cancer Council Victoria on behalf of the Department of Health.
The 2022/23 survey was the thirteenth 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 2022/23 survey can be found on the Cancer Council Victoria .
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 Nati1onal 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.
Further details are available on the Australian Institue of Health and Welfare .
Reviewed 27 May 2024