What Are Drug and Alcohol Services? How to Get Started

October 13, 2025

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5 min read

Every year, hundreds of thousands of Australians seek help from drug and alcohol (AOD) services. These are the organisations, programs, and supports dedicated to reducing harm, treating dependence, and improving wellbeing for individuals, families, and communities.

In this post, we’ll explore what AOD services look like in Australia, common types, how they are accessed, and how you can begin working or volunteering in this critical sector.

What Exactly Are Drug and Alcohol Services?

Drug and alcohol services (often called AOD services) encompass a broad range of interventions and support designed to help people affected by substance use. Key functions include:

Counselling and psychosocial support
Withdrawal management / detoxification
Residential rehabilitation
Pharmacotherapy (e.g. opioid substitution treatment)
Harm reduction programs
Referral, intake, and case coordination
Support for family members

These services aim not only for abstinence or reduced use, but also for safer patterns of use, improved quality of life, and long-term recovery. AIHW+2Health, Disability and Ageing Dept+2

Australia’s publicly funded AOD treatment agencies delivered nearly 241,000 treatment episodes to about 131,900 clients in 2023–24. AIHW+1

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Counselling

The most commonly known treatment service of this nature is counselling. It revolves around providing emotional support services; advising those recovering from addiction.

Since addiction can further lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other mental health conditions, those factors also need to be treated. In the case of alcohol addiction, it's also common to counsel patients through bursts of anger.

Different Kinds Of Counselling

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is well-documented in terms of helping those with addictions. It requires different strategies and practices to reorient thinking patterns. This is further built on through unlearning self-destructive or self-deprecating habits.

Psychotherapy has also found success as a treatment option. This form of therapy doesn't challenge the patient. Instead, it looks at building their self-awareness and is almost gentle in its approach of "re-parenting." Here the counsellor allows them to unpack their past experiences like a parent listening to their child.

Support Groups

These programs are designed to provide a community for those who feel isolated in their situation. This service involves multiple people and allows them to talk freely in a non-judgmental space. Framing recovery as a social situation instead of a clinical one has proven to be an effective recovery route for many people.

These support services can also treat severe withdrawal symptoms or advise concerned family members and friends.

It's highly common for families and friends of addiction patients to find a sense of community with each other. This is why it's encouraged to look for support groups when faced with a loved one's substance abuse.

Detox Treatment

These services are provided by clinics that want to minimise the harm of drugs and alcohol. They help people cut themselves off from the substance. Since addiction can be an inherited disease, prevention isn't always an option for every person. This is why Detoxification is an extremely important way to treat the disease.

Detoxification aims to let the drugs exit a person's system safely. A health professional administers the treatment since withdrawal symptoms can create a medical emergency. The process is heavily monitored to reduce potential danger and goes one step at a time for added ease.

Access to Treatment Clinics

Australia is addressing the broader issue of alcohol and drug abuse by setting up different rehab centres to treat patients.

One can gain access to these centres by either referring themselves or through a referral from a doctor or health care provider.

Which Treatments Are Most Effective Against Addiction?

Addiction can impact someone in a variety of ways. Treatment requires a highly trained mental health professional to be involved.

Since dependence on alcohol and other drugs can completely impair function, various forms of counselling have emerged as effective solutions. While the risk of relapse can't be fully removed, developing appropriate programs can make a huge difference.

Ultimately the goal is to support people's health from every angle. This is to help them adjust to life without dependence on any drug.

The Need for Addiction Specialists

Since its a very specific field, addiction requires certain knowledge to navigate fully. As a result, drug and alcohol services have become an ever-present aspect of treatment. To be able to provide services holistically, one can't look at health or emotional problems alone. Long-lasting and positive results will only come when you consider both factors.

Alcohol And Drug Addiction Look Different

There is a reason that this service is called "Alcohol and Drug" rather than the broader term "addiction". This is because both affect a person differently.

About alcohol, it's common to hear about bursts of anger or very extreme emotions, while with drug addictions, anxiety and paranoia are usually present. This isn't set in stone, nor is every person affected the same way. But the distinction is important since the needs of these addictions are different, and the health concerns that come up will also vary.

So while providing service to those with alcohol addiction, we must keep in mind that the liver is at risk, but for drug users, it could be the lungs, blood contamination from needles, etc. And depending on the situation, the strategies provided will be different. There isn't a single solution to beating addiction; progress comes from staying flexible and attentive to client needs.

What Skillset Is Needed for Alcohol and Drug Services?

Drug service providers are the middle between a doctor (i.e., a general physician) and a therapist.

So the knowledge this job requires is not only training for different kinds of therapy but also health-related information. It is because alcohol and other drug issues can contribute to various problems.

This is why experts in the field are highly trained in diagnosing the nature of different problems. They need to identify if they can resolve the issue or if the severity requires a referral.

How to Get Started in Drug & Alcohol Services

If you’re thinking of working in or volunteering with AOD services, here are the key steps:

1. Gain Relevant Qualifications

Start with a nationally recognised AOD or mental health qualification (Certificate IV or Diploma levels). Ensure it covers content such as counselling, case management, harm reduction, ethics, and placements.

2. Acquire Practical Experience

Place yourself in community or health settings, volunteer with support services or outreach programs to understand real client issues.

3. Understand Screening & Checks

Typical requirements include:

Working With Children Check (if relevant)
National Police Check
Health clearances and vaccinations
NDIS Worker Screening (for roles in NDIS-funded services)

4. Networking & Mentorship

Connect with professionals in the AOD field via events, workshops, or professional associations. Seek mentors who can guide your early work and career choices.

5. Continuous Learning

The AOD sector changes rapidly — engage in professional development, learn about co-occurring mental health, trauma-responsive care, cultural competency, new treatment models, and policy.

6. Apply for Roles in Intake, Counselling, Support Work

Begin with roles in referral, intake, outreach, or support work before moving into specialist counselling or case management.

Why AOD Services Matter

High demand & burden — AOD use is linked to increased risk of injury, mental illness, preventable disease, and death. AIHW
Growing service volume — Public AOD agencies in Australia delivered over 241,000 treatment episodes in 2023–24. AIHW+1
Improved outcomes — Integrated support (counselling + pharmacotherapy + psychosocial care) leads to better recovery and reduced relapse. NSW Health+1
Inclusive & regional focus — Services must offer culturally safe care and include priority populations (Aboriginal, youth, forensic). Health Victoria+1

How Can I Get Certified?

You don't need to look too far. We here at the Hader Institute provide courses to train professionals in addiction treatment.

Our Certificate IV and Diploma are officially recognised by the Australian Government, which means you are in a solid position to start your career providing support services. Our curriculum is comprehensive and backed by research.

FAQ's

What Is The Benefit Of The Course?

As a Government Certified course, opting for Hader Institute will be a productive step towards a career in drug and alcohol services. Not only that, but our courses are also designed to provide addiction support services across multiple disciplines.

Who Can I Contact For More Help?

Simply refer to the page on our site for more information on the courses and further contact details. We provide an email and an option to book an appointment for any enquiries.

Can I Learn Fully Online?

The Hader Institute is a 100% online business. Our site will always have a dedicated page to address student concerns. The education we provide is designed with remote learning in mind to support every kind of student.

What Skills Will This Course Teach?

Our program's curriculum covers a broad range of relevant physical and mental health topics. We also address how to identify other drug issues, when to stage an intervention and what kind of treatment would be most effective.

You will receive education on strategies and techniques supported by research and data. As a result, your understanding of drug services and alcohol addictions will be well-rounded and address all areas of concern.

What Are Possible Career Paths?

The education you will receive with us prepares young people to take on roles such as working in Community Support Services. This also includes specialising in addiction-related services like Detoxification work. Or even a role that revolves around emotional support, like an Alcohol and Drugs Worker.

Providing drug treatment or, more broadly, addiction support services is an asset regardless of the kind of social work you do. As many elders and young people currently deal with drug issues or alcohol addiction, this training makes it possible to help.

Overall, our courses will ensure you're well-equipped to offer service in a productive capacity, that is, without limiting career paths.