A unique analysis of drug treatment data shows more people are overcoming dependency and services are getting better at getting people into recovery.

In the past three years, one third of new entrants to the system successfully completed treatment and did not return. Users starting treatment now are much more likely to recover than those who started six or more years ago.

These findings are contained in a new NTA commentary on the six years’ worth of treatment data that was released alongside the annual statistics last year.

It examines in more detail what happened to the 341,741 unique individuals recorded in treatment between 2005-06 and 2010-11, and demonstrates how more people are recovering from dependency than ever before.

The report shows for the first time how the system performed over an extended period in contrast to the conventional 12-month snapshot of annual statistics.

It illustrates a dynamic system in which staff and services are responding to the challenge of supporting those who need help to lead drug-free lives.