Australia-wide · 24/7 support lines · No cost
Help with addiction in Australia, without the noise
A plain-language guide to drug, alcohol, and behavioural addiction recovery — written for the person staring at their phone at 2am, not the marketing brochure. Find treatment in your city, understand your options, and get a free callback if you want one.
Medically reviewed
Every page checked by a registered Australian medical professional.
24/7 support lines
Free national and state helplines for every state and territory.
Public, private & free
Honest comparison of every pathway — no commercial preference.
Privacy protected
Bound by the Privacy Act 1988. Your call, your data, your control.
You don't need to have it figured out before you reach out.
Most people who land here are exhausted. Maybe it's not even for you. Maybe it's a partner, a parent, an adult child you can't sleep over.
We built Relapse to be the website we wished existed when we needed it: no breathless "miracle program" pitches, no scare tactics, no maze of jargon. Just clear answers about what treatment actually looks like in your part of Australia, what it costs, what's free, and how to take the next step.
Every page is reviewed by a registered Australian medical professional. The directory listings are real services, not affiliate placements. The free callback connects you to people who specialise in matching the right person to the right pathway.
Find rehab by state
Treatment options, public detox wait times, and helpline numbers for every Australian state and territory.
New South Wales
NSW ADIS (Alcohol & Drug Info Service)
1800 250 015 →
Victoria
DirectLine Victoria
1800 888 236 →
Queensland
ADIS Queensland
1800 177 833 →
Western Australia
Alcohol and Drug Support Line WA
1800 198 024 →
South Australia
ADIS South Australia
1300 131 340 →
Tasmania
Alcohol & Drug Information Service Tasmania
1800 811 994 →
Australian Capital Territory
ACT ADASSU
(02) 6207 9977 →
Northern Territory
Amity Community Services NT
1800 131 350 →
Find rehab by city
Local clinics, detox units, and counselling services in Australia's largest cities.
Substance-specific guides
Each guide covers what dependence looks like, how it's treated in Australia, and where to start.
Alcohol
Alcohol is the most commonly treated substance in Australian rehabilitation services. Long-term heavy use can affect the liver, he…
Ice (Methamphetamine)
Methamphetamine — most commonly the crystalline form known as ice — is a powerful stimulant. Its impact on Australian families and…
Cocaine
Cocaine use in Australia has risen significantly, particularly in major cities. While withdrawal is rarely medically dangerous, th…
Heroin & Opioids
Opioids — including heroin and prescription painkillers like oxycodone — produce powerful physical dependence. The good news: opio…
Cannabis
Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia. Most people who use cannabis don't develop dependence, but for the min…
Prescription Medications
Dependence on prescription medications — most often benzodiazepines, opioid painkillers, or sleeping tablets — is one of the faste…
Gambling
Australia has the highest per-capita gambling losses in the world. Problem gambling is recognised as a behavioural addiction with …
Real Australians, real conversations
The first call is the hardest. After that, things move.
I sat in my car outside the bottle shop for forty minutes before I called. The person on the other end didn't lecture me. She just listened, asked a few questions, and called me back the next day with three options.
We didn't know where to start with our son. Every site we found wanted us to fill in a form for sales. Relapse was the first place that just gave us straight answers.
I'd been to two private rehabs that didn't stick. Someone here told me about an NGO program with a 90-day option that I didn't even know existed. That's the one that worked.
Quotes are illustrative composites of common feedback. We do not publish identifying details from any individual we've spoken with.
Treatment & cost guides
Plain-language explainers on how rehab works in Australia and what each pathway actually costs.
Inpatient rehab
Residential programs — what they involve, who they suit.
Outpatient programs
Living at home, attending sessions — the most common format.
What does rehab cost?
2026 breakdown across public, NGO, and private sectors.
Free rehab access
Public detox and rehab is free — here's how to access it.
Australian rehab — by the numbers
Cost, wait times, outcomes, funding — the data we wish people had before that first call.
Recent articles
Long-form, plain-language pieces on rehab, recovery, and family support.
Choosing a rehab
🏥 How to choose a rehab in Australia: a clear, practical guide ✨
Public, private, NGO, day-program, residential — how do you actually pick? A plain-language framework for choosing rehab in Australia, with …
9 min read →
Detox & withdrawal
🏥 What to expect in your first week of detox ✨
What actually happens in detox — what you'll feel, what staff do, what the days look like, and what the literature says about how long it ta…
8 min read →
For family & loved ones
💚 How to talk to a loved one about their drinking or drug use ✨
A practical, non-judgemental guide to raising the conversation — what helps, what backfires, and what to do when the answer is "no, I'm fine…
10 min read →
Common questions about rehab in Australia
How much does rehab cost in Australia?
Public (government-funded) detox and rehab is free at the point of access for Australian residents, though wait lists can range from days to several weeks. Private inpatient rehab typically costs $25,000–$45,000 for a 28-day program; some private health insurance funds cover a portion. We can help you understand your options on a free confidential call.
What's the difference between detox and rehab?
Detox (withdrawal management) is the short medical phase — usually 3–10 days — where the body adjusts to being without the substance. Rehab (rehabilitation) is the longer-term work that follows: counselling, group therapy, relapse prevention, and rebuilding daily life. Most people benefit from doing detox first, then rehab — going straight into therapy while still withdrawing rarely sticks.
Do I have to be 'rock bottom' to go to rehab?
No. People who seek help earlier — before losing housing, jobs, or custody — generally have shorter, easier recoveries. Waiting for rock bottom is one of the most damaging myths in addiction recovery. If your use is affecting any part of your life, that's enough.
Will my employer / family find out?
Treatment in Australia is bound by strict privacy laws (the Privacy Act 1988 and state-specific health records legislation). Clinics cannot disclose your attendance to employers without written consent, and Medicare records of mental health treatment are not visible to employers. Many people take leave under general medical grounds without disclosing the specific reason.
Can I keep working while in rehab?
It depends on the program. Outpatient programs let you continue work and family commitments, with sessions in the evenings or weekly. Residential (inpatient) programs require 28 days to several months away. Many Australians use accumulated annual leave, long service leave, or carer's leave. Some employers offer paid 'addiction leave' under EAP programs.
Is rehab covered by Medicare?
Medicare covers GP consultations, mental health care plans (which give you 10–20 subsidised psychology sessions per year), and addiction medicine specialists. Public hospital detox is fully Medicare-covered. Private rehab is generally not covered by Medicare, but may be covered by private health insurance.
How long does treatment take?
Detox: 3–10 days. Residential rehab: typically 28 days, with longer programs (60–90 days) showing better outcomes for severe dependence. Outpatient and aftercare: ongoing for 12+ months is associated with the strongest long-term recovery. Recovery itself doesn't have an end date — it becomes a way of living, not a course you finish.
Get free, confidential help today
Tell us a bit about your situation and a recovery specialist will call you back — usually within an hour during business hours. No pressure, no judgement, no cost.
- 100% confidential — covered by Australian privacy law.
- No cost for the consultation. Public and private options available.
- No judgement — you don't need to have it figured out before you call.
Prefer to call directly? Lifeline: 13 11 14 (24/7). Emergency: 000.