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Barriers and enablers associated with access and equity in alcohol and other drug treatment in NSW

This research project was undertaken to better understand the enablers to accessing Alcohol and Other Drug (AOD) services in NSW. Some of the main issues facing AOD treatment services is the reported difficulties that clients have in accessing treatment, sustaining engagement with treatment, and maintaining their positive outcomes in the post-treatment period.

Using qualitative research strategies, interviews were conducted with 20 clients of AOD services and 15 sector stakeholders during 2019 and 2020. The project was organised around three key periods in the treatment experience: the period leading up to treatment and the factors that support clients to get there; the treatment period and the factors that help to sustain clients’ engagement with treatment; and the post-treatment period and the factors that support the maintenance of positive treatment outcomes. Within this, we sought to explore how issues of access and equity impact each of these periods differently to identify factors that maximise treatment outcomes for clients and ensure equity in such outcomes.