Alcohol and drug-related harms continue to be significant public health issues in Victoria, Australia. To address these challenges, various telephone counselling and referral services have been established to provide support and information to individuals dealing with substance use issues. This article explores the scope, methods, and data analysis of these services, as well as the trends and metrics presented through the AODstats platform provided by Turning Point.

Scope of Telephone Counselling Services

The Alcohol and Other Drug Statistics (AODstats) platform offers a comprehensive resource for tracking trends related to substance use harms at the community level. This data is vital for policy planners, healthcare professionals, and other stakeholders who aim to intervene and minimise the impact of alcohol and drug-related harms in Victoria. The AODstats platform provides an interactive and convenient statistical resource that helps inform strategies and policies.

Data Sources and Analysis

Data Indicator: Telephone Counselling Services

Data on telephone counselling services is sourced from Turning Point’s DirectLine database. DirectLine provides confidential alcohol and drug counselling, information, and referral services to Victorians. The data extracted from this database includes details of calls made by residents seeking assistance for substance use issues, categorised by residential location.

Metrics Presented

Numbers and Categorical Data

To ensure privacy and compliance with ethical standards, cell sizes less than five are obfuscated. Additionally, some categorical data may be hidden if it can be deduced by subtracting remaining categories from the total.

Rates Calculation

Rates are calculated using multiple methods, including:

• Crude Rates: Calculated for the total population, males, and females. These rates adjust for population size across different areas but do not account for demographic attributes like age and sex.
• Age-Specific Rates: These rates are calculated for specific age groups and are displayed in visualisations and downloadable sheets.
• Age and Gender-Standardised Rates: Used in population pyramid visualisations, these rates allow for accurate comparisons across different areas by adjusting for age and gender demographics.

Population Estimates

Population estimates are based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) estimated resident population (ERP) data. This data is used consistently across AODstats, depending on the calendar or financial year dataset requirements.

Limitations of Administrative Data

Using administrative data for purposes beyond its original intent presents several limitations:

• Incomplete or Missing Data: Data might be incomplete or inadequately coded, leading to potential inaccuracies.
• Drug Categorisation: Some drugs are pre-categorised, limiting the ability to regroup or specify drug types. Occasionally, surrogate measures are used when specific drug information is unavailable, which can lead to inclusion or exclusion errors.
• Location Information: The granularity of location data varies, with Local Government Area (LGA) often being the smallest unit provided. In some cases, only state-level data is available.
• Crude Rates: While useful for policy perspectives, crude rates do not allow for accurate demographic comparisons. Small numbers can result in unstable results. However, age-specific and age and gender-standardised rates offer more precise comparisons.

Key Findings from AODstats

Trends in Counseling Services

AODstats reveals important trends in the utilisation of telephone counselling services:

• High Utilisation: There is significant use of telephone services for substance-related issues, highlighting the demand for accessible support.
• Demographic Variations: Utilisation rates vary across different demographics, with certain age groups and genders showing higher engagement with counselling services.

Geographic Distribution

The data shows geographic variations in service utilisation:

• Urban vs. Rural: Urban areas generally have higher rates of service utilisation compared to rural regions, reflecting differences in accessibility and prevalence of substance use issues.
• Local Disparities: Specific LGAs exhibit higher rates of telephone counselling service use, indicating localised substance use problems.

Policy Implications

The insights provided by AODstats are crucial for developing targeted interventions and policies:

• Resource Allocation: Understanding the geographic and demographic trends helps in allocating resources effectively to areas with higher needs.
• Customised Strategies: Tailoring strategies to specific populations based on age, gender, and location can enhance the effectiveness of interventions.

The comprehensive data provided by AODstats through Turning Point’s DirectLine database offers valuable insights into the trends and impacts of alcohol and drug-related telephone counselling services in Victoria. By understanding these patterns, stakeholders can develop informed policies and strategies to mitigate the harms associated with substance use.

Source: AODstats