Overlap between youth justice supervision and alcohol and other drug treatment services

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has released a report entitled “Overlap between youth justice supervision and alcohol and other drug treatment services: 1 July 2012 to June 2016.” The report highlights the significant intersections between alcohol and other drug treatment and youth justice involvement for many young Australians. This report presents information on young people aged 10–17 who were under youth justice supervision (both in the community, and in detention) and received an AOD treatment service between 1 July 2012 and 30 June 2016. Using data from the Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set and the Juvenile Justice National Minimum Data Set, the report highlights the characteristics and patterns between young people engaged with both systems.

Some key findings include:

• Young people under youth justice supervision were 30 times as likely to receive an AOD treatment service compared to the general youth population.
• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander young people were 14 times more likely to receive both AOD and Youth Justice services compared to non-indigenous young people.
• Almost two-thirds (62%) were under youth justice supervision before receiving AOD treatment services.
• The average age of first contact with both systems was 14 years.
• The most common principal drug of concern was cannabis (69%), followed by alcohol (26%), and amphetamines (16%).

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