Information and Support Services

Since 2001, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation's Information and Support Services has been giving Australians free, confidential access to reliable facts about alcohol and other drugs (AOD) — by phone, text, chatbot, website and Library, any time they need them.

It is a national, accessible, web-based service providing trusted AOD information and resources, harm reduction advice, self-management tools, and information about available support pathways. 

Designed for people seeking information for themselves, as well as family members, friends, carers, communities and health professionals seeking to better understand AOD use and related risks and harms. 

Program objectives

The Information and Support Services program aims to:

1. Increase awareness, knowledge and health literacy about AOD risks, harm reduction information, treatment options and available support pathways to enable informed decision-making, delayed initiation, promote lower risk behaviours and contribute to overall demand reduction. 
2. Influence attitudes, beliefs and social norms by reducing stigma, improving understanding of alcohol and other drug use and encouraging delayed initiation, lower-risk use and normalisation of help-seeking. 
3. Enable earlier help-seeking and support by reducing barriers to accessing information, increasing confidence to take action and connecting people, families and communities with appropriate self-management resources, and information on treatment and support services, before problems escalate.

Why Information and Support Services matter

Ninety-two per cent of Australians report they will need AOD information at some point in their lives.

But misinformation about alcohol and other drugs is everywhere. This makes it harder for people to understand risk, make informed decisions, and know how to help themselves or someone they care about. 

Stigma, anonymity, knowing where to start and cost are some of the biggest barriers stopping people from seeking help early. Our Information and Support Services removes those barriers, providing trustworthy, tailored easy-to-access information that meets people wherever they are on the continuum of alcohol and other drug use.

Evidence shows that timely, accurate information can increase knowledge, support informed decision-making and help people consider changes to their alcohol or drug use - before harms become more entrenched. It can also help concerned family and friends build the knowledge and confidence to have conversations and support the people they care about.

Our Services and Impact

• ADF website - Trusted AOD information helping Australians understand risks, reduce harms and take informed action. Over 5 million sessions with ADF’s evidence-based content; AI agents access content an average of 50,000 times a day and Google AI overviews our content 200,000 times a day to support consumer AOD enquiries; demonstrating the website’s role as a high-reach national source of trusted information, self-help tools and pathways to support.
• Drug Facts – With almost 3.9-million-page views, Drug Facts provides accessible, continually updated information that helps people understand individual drug effects, risks and ways to reduce harm. Ninety-one per cent of surveyed users report that the information was useful,
• Insights and Mini-Bulletins – Regular, research-based content highlighting the latest AOD issues and news, plus in-depth bulletins tailored to specific audiences such as health professionals. More than 87% of surveyed users found the Insights content they searched useful, demonstrating its value in turning current research and emerging AOD issues into practical knowledge for the public and professionals. 
• Path2Help – An online portal for people who use AOD and concerned family and friends. Nearly 150,000 people visited the portal for information on support services and more than 19,000 people used the Path2Help assessment tool, which matches individuals with tailored information and support from more than 14,000 specialist services nationally. Of those, 83% completed their assessment; 66% took a support action and 25% went on to a formal service. Among surveyed users, 90% found the tailored information and support useful and 85% reported they had taken or planned to take action. 
• dib – Our AI-powered drug info chatbot. dib helps breakdown the barriers created by stigma and low health literacy, giving evidence-based, non-judgemental answers in everyday language within a safe environment. More than 30,000 consumer conversations to date demonstrate demand for this accessible, conversational pathway to trusted AOD information that can meet people where they are, including people who may not yet be ready to seek formal support. 
• Text The Effects – Text a drug name to 0439 TELL ME [0439 835 563] and get an instant SMS reply about its effects, plus links to more information and help. More than 16,000 pieces of short-form AOD information have been delivered directly to Australians via this free service, providing an immediate and confidential way to access information about drug effects and links to further info and support. 
• ADF Library – Nearly 7,500 professionals, students and sector users access Australia’s only specialist AOD library, connecting the workforce with more than 1 million resources and supporting evidence-informed policy, practice, education and research. It’s free to join at adf.org.au/resources/adf-library.
• Improving access to culturally relevant AOD information through Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander-led co-design - Fourteen co-created resources provide culturally relevant information that supports understanding of AOD risks, harm reduction and help-seeking while addressing barriers created when mainstream information does not reflect community context and needs. 

What people tell us*

After using our resources, people at high risk of alcohol and other drug harm are more likely to:

• reduce the amount of alcohol or drugs they're using
• think about changing their own use
• talk to a friend, family member or colleague about their alcohol or drug use
• share the information with others.

Concerned family and friends are significantly more likely to talk to someone about their alcohol or drug use after accessing our resources, compared with other users.

Professionals who use our information tell us they apply it in their day-to-day practice (41%), share it with others (34%), and use it to support patients, clients or students who use alcohol or other drugs (28%).

*Data is sourced from ADF-led research, including pop-up surveys with website users and triennial national surveys with people who use alcohol and other drugs and their support networks.

Supported by

Our Information and Support Services program is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, and the Victorian Government’s Department of Health.