The Drug and Alcohol Program (DAP) is a national program delivered by the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing (the department). The DAP’s objectives are to prevent and minimise health, social, cultural and economic harms of alcohol and other drug (AOD) use among individuals, families and communities. Funding is delivered through DAP direct funding and through Primary Health Networks (PHNs) and is supplementary to the funding provided by states and territories. Through the DAP, the Australian Government has invested in treatment,  prevention, research, data and international activities to reduce the impact of harmful AOD use (excluding tobacco, smoking and vaping-related programs) across targeted streams. Six sub streams of the DAP are in scope for this evaluation, including:
• Prevention Programs
• National Prevention Projects
• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD)
• Withdrawal Management and Rehabilitation Services
• AOD Treatment Services in Areas of Identified Need
• PHNs.
Two important trends characterise the AOD landscape in Australia: increased demand for services and increased complexity of client needs. This growing need increases the impetus for governments to ensure funded AOD initiatives address identified need and demand.