(Waiting Lists and Waiting Times for Treatment in Austria 2012) "Although the capacities of addiction support and treatment services in Austria have been continually expanded, many centres have waiting lists, and clients have to accept waiting times, which, however, depend on many factors, and may vary greatly.

(Utilization of Treatment Services and Patient Demographics in Austria 2011) "The client year 2011 is the sixth year for which data of the DOKLI [Austrian Treatment Demand Indicator System] nationwide documentation system of clients of Austrian drug services have been available 36 (see also Tables A23–A28).

(Prevalence of Last-Year Use in Austria 2008) "The prevalence rates covering the past year (12-month prevalence) have gone down considerably. They are above one percent only in the case of cannabis (2.8 %; 2004: 7.5 %) and under one percent regarding all other substances (see Figure 2.1). This confirms the assumption that use of illicit drugs tends to be limited to a certain period in life or to experimental use. However, the strong decrease in 12-month prevalence rates for illicit substances compared to 2004 should be assessed critically.

Overdose Deaths in Austria: "In 2013, a total of 122 fatal overdoses were verified in the context of autopsies. An additional 16 deaths – for which no autopsies were performed – are very likely to result from drug overdoses (narcotic drug poisoning given as the cause of death in the confirmation-of-death certificate after external post-mortem examination)39. A total number of 138 deaths directly related to overdoses is therefore assumed for 2013. A decline in drug-related deaths has become apparent in recent years (see Figure 6 3). Figures for individual provinces and age groups are given in Tables A3 to A7.

Availability and Utilization of Syringe Exchange in Austria: "The number of syringes that have been returned or sold in the individual provinces has further risen. In 2013 a total of 4 762 999 syringes or needles were issued to drug users throughout Austria (2012: 4 625 121). Assuming that there are between 11 000 and 15 000 injecting drug users in Austria, an average of approximately 360 sterile syringes per year have been issued per injecting drug user in the context of syringe exchange. Austria thus continues to rank top in Europe and also meets the goal defined by the WHO to a great extent45 (see GÖG/ÖBIG 2013a). The number of permanent locations where syringes can be exchanged or bought has not changed. In Carinthia, one streetwork service is no longer available, whereas in Upper Austria an additional syringe vending machine was installed in the reporting period (see Table A31 and ST10).

Prevalence of HIV in Austria Related to Injection Drug Use: "In the early 1990s the HIV prevalence rate was still as high as around 20% in the group of injecting drug users, but has gone down to low levels since then (2013: 0% to 11%; see Table 6.1), with the largest numbers recorded among drug-related deaths. Here, slightly elevated figures have repeatedly been registered in recent years (e.g. 2012: 5% to 12%; see GÖG/ÖBIG 2013c). Figure 6.1 shows that the percentage of persons with HIV infections due to IDU who have been included in Austria's HIV cohort study36 has gone down in recent years. However, in 2011 we see an increase for the first time since 2007, especially in the group aged under 25. As of 2012, the figures have not continued to rise, and in 2013 a marked decline has been re-corded.

Overall Prevalence of Substance Use in Austria