No surprise to experts: Alcohol still driving addiction rates

World-class retreat shines light on Australia’s latest alcohol addiction trends  

New data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)¹  confirms alcohol remains Australia’s leading addiction, prompting renewed calls from experts for greater awareness of specialist treatment and support. World-class addiction rehab  Southern Highlands Addiction Retreat say the findings come as no surprise and coincides with two years of admission data that highlights continued demand for alcohol addiction support. 

According to admissions data from the retreat,² alcohol addiction continues to be the leading cause for guests seeking residential treatment with two in three guests requiring support for alcohol dependency, highlighting its continued prevalence as Australia’s most common drug of concern.   

Southern Highlands Addiction Retreat offer specialist treatment and support on 100-acres of land surrounded by the Southern Highlands national parks in New South Wales. The retreat offers interventions for private, veteran and executive guests who require specialist treatment to begin their addiction recovery journey. 

 The retreat’s admissions data also reveals that alcohol addiction often co-exists with other drug or behavioural addictions including cannabis, methamphetamine, cocaine, sedatives and gambling. The data shows that the top three co-existing addictions, when a guest presented with alcohol as a primary addiction, were sedatives (30%), gambling (18%) and cocaine (16%). 

 These insights mirror national AIHW data, which demonstrate that alcohol has remained the most common drug of concern over the past decade. To meet the growing needs of this addiction, the total number of alcohol and drug treatment service providers in the past decade has risen by 66%.¹ 

 According to Dr Jennifer Parer, who is the Medical Director and Owner of Southern Highlands Addiction Retreat, alcohol addiction is one of the hardest addictions to address – so the data is not surprising. 

 “Alcohol is always the most common and the hardest addiction to address as it is legal, widely available, relatively cheap and deeply embedded in Australian culture. The troubling truth about this is, alcohol is often the gateway to other addictions, such as drugs and gambling,” said Dr Parer. 

 Southern Highlands Addiction Retreat’s data also points to the often-complicated nature of addiction, with most occurring alongside trauma and other mental health conditions.  A vast majority of guests were diagnosed with either major depressive disorder (87%), generalised anxiety disorder (71%), post-traumatic stress disorder (69%) or ADHD (35%). 

 According to the AIHW data for 2024-25, close to 128,000 people nationally received publicly funded treatment or support from alcohol and other drug use. Between 2015-2025, the number of people receiving alcohol and other drug treatment rose by 12%, with a notable increase in people seeking treatment aged over 40 years.¹ 

 While two thirds (68%) of treatment occurred in a non-residential setting, such as community-based day programs and outpatient services, there is an increase in the numbers of Australians seeking support via residential rehabilitation. Over 17,000 treatment episodes for alcohol and other drugs occurred in 2024-25.¹ 

 Dr Parer added that many high-functioning working adults struggle with addiction and after trying other options  often require on-site specialist treatment to support their recovery. 

 “People living with addiction can hide this well in their daily lives. The turning point usually comes when other people start to realise what is happening or when aspects of their life start to be significantly impacted, such as relationships, work and finances. Addiction is a chronic and relapsing condition, which usually requires professional support  to overcome. Attending a professionally run rehab allows a person to take a break from  their daily lives to better understand their addiction, underlying triggers and seek support from dedicated professionals.”  

“There continues to be a lack of understanding of what addiction is and what support is needed to help people who are ready to start their recovery,” added Dr Parer. “Addiction is a chronic disease, but you can control how it impacts you and lead a happy and functional life.”  

The realities of living with addiction 

 Ben is a married father of three young children and a successful Sydney business owner who reached a breaking point with what he describes as an “out of control” addiction to alcohol, cocaine and gambling 

 After a final binge on ANZAC Day in 2025, he entered Southern Highlands Addiction Retreat, recognising that without help he risked losing everything – including his life. 

 “The turning point was drinking and taking 7g of cocaine at one time. The penny dropped when I spoke to a counsellor and could see what my addiction was doing to my wife and the people around me. I knew I needed support, but the time had to be right. I was ready but driving up the driveway to rehab was one of the scariest moments in my life,” said Ben. 

 Now, a year on, Ben continues his recovery through aftercare and ongoing support. “Being at Southern Highlands Addiction Retreat changed my life. If you’re prepared to throw yourself into it, you will benefit.” 

 Linda Jackson, who is the Clinical Lead at Southern Highlands Addiction Retreat, says her own recovery journey from alcohol enables her to provide that critical and nurturing support needed by guests during their residential treatment. 

 “My lived experience allows me to connect with our guests on a different level. I understand the courage and strength it takes for someone to admit they have a problem and take the necessary steps to engage in treatment to address their addiction.” 

 “Addiction manifests in many ways. When guests come to us, they are at various stages of their journey, and our support model is built to meet them exactly where they are. While the luxurious, home-like qualities of our retreat help soften the process, it's our deep understanding of the individual that truly puts people on the right path for recovery.”