Vision statement ten: Care experienced adults must have a right to access to supportive, caring services for as long as they require. Those services and the people who work in them must have a primary focus on the development and maintenance of supportive relationships that help people access what they need to thrive.
Support for people who use drugs or alcohol increases.
Number of referrals starting communitybased treatment for problematic drug or alcohol use, and proportion receiving that help within 3 weeks or less.
| Year | Proportion | Number |
|---|---|---|
| 2024/25 | 93.6% | 26, 577 |
| 2023/24 | 91.9% | 27, 612 |
| 2022/23 | 90.2% | 26, 382 |
| 2021/22 | 90.8% | 27, 733 |
| 2020/21 | 95.5% | 29, 133 |
| 2019/20 | 93.8% | 33, 436 |
Notes
Reporting period: 1 April 2024 to 31 March 2025
Expanded Content
Referrals to community-based specialist drug and alcohol treatment services remain below baseline but similar to recent years. The proportion seen within three weeks rose initially, fell in 2021/22 and 2022/23, and has since improved. The waiting time standard has been consistently met.These figures reflect access among those seeking treatment, not overall need or unmet demand, and should be interpreted as indicators of service responsiveness rather than population-level need.