More than 100 alcohol abuse cases comes to light in the NT every day.
Researchers have found there were 42,871 episodes/encounters for alcohol treatment in NT in 2016/17.
An estimated 6400-8000 individuals per year currently access some form of treatment, with counselling the most prevalent form of treatment.
The NT Government today released the independent assessment of the need for alcohol treatment across the Territory.
The Demand Study for Alcohol Treatment Services in the Northern Territory report was undertaken in response to a number of recommendations of the Riley Alcohol Review and is included in the NT Alcohol Harm Minimisation Action Plan.
The study was jointly led by Menzies School of Health Research and the University of New South Wales, in partnership with the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the NT.
The study found the availability of specialist alcohol treatment services for those with the most severe problems is largely meeting demand.
There was little discussion in the report about the worth of sobering up shelters.
A government has found Katherine's shelter, operated by Mission Australia, saw just over 1000 people last year.
On those numbers, taxpayers are paying $653 a night for each drunk to stay in the under-used shelter.
Today's report says such shelters were good at "picking up and referring people into more intensive alcohol treatment".
The study found:
An estimated 6400-8000 individuals per year currently access some form of treatment, with counselling the most prevalent form of treatment.
The bulk of alcohol treatment services are provided in Aboriginal community controlled health services, General Practitioners, self-help groups and Sobering Up Shelters.
The reviewers found there is a large unmet demand for screening and brief intervention, in the order of 18,500 to 19,000 people.
There are an estimated 158 residential rehabilitation beds for people with alcohol disorders. This is 15% below the modelled estimate of 187 residential rehabilitation beds.
The distribution of current treatment types, and geographical distribution of that treatment, will be reassessed as part of the development of an Alcohol Treatment Services Plan to strengthen the service system.
There is an identified opportunity to enhance service planning between NT Health, Corrections and Territory Families, in combination with the NTPHN, which provides resources to the primary health care sector.
The report is available online at https://www.menzies.edu.au/DemandStudyforAlcoholTreatmentServices.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the study was part of the Government's commitment to delivering the recommendations of the Riley Report.
"The study identified the important role that can be played by primary health care providers, particularly GPs and the Aboriginal community controlled organisations, in responding to alcohol treatment needs throughout the NT, to complement the role of specialist AOD services."
"The study will be one element used to inform the development of an Alcohol Treatment Services Plan for the NT."
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