Alcohol and Drug Foundation

What Alcohol and Drug Foundation does

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation (ADF) is an Australian registered charity (ACN 057 731 192), founded around 1959-1960, headquartered in Melbourne with offices in all eight Australian states and territories. Its mission is to prevent and reduce alcohol and other drug (AOD) harm through evidence-based programming, policy advocacy, and public information services. The organisation operates a portfolio of free services including the Good Sports community sports accreditation program (nearly 10,000 participating clubs with documented 37% reduction in risky drinking and 42% reduction in alcohol-related accidents), Path2Help (an algorithmic matching tool connecting users to 10,000+ support services, powered by Infoxchange), the dib AI chatbot (launched May 2025 with 45,000+ conversations in year one, providing anonymous evidence-based information drawn from the ADF website), the ADF Library (free access to 11,000+ journals and databases — the largest specialist AOD library in Australia), the Drug Facts database, telephone helplines (National AOD Hotline and DrugInfo line), and the Community Hub.

The ADF's underlying technology stack is modest but cohesive: cloud-based web properties (adf.org.au, community.adf.org.au), a Shopify e-commerce storefront for the ADF Shop, AI-mediated conversational retrieval via dib, a recommendation algorithm for Path2Help, Google Analytics Demographics and Interest Reporting for audience insights, and Ortto-powered SMS/MMS messaging. An explicit AI Privacy Framework governs chatbot data handling, including de-identification, anonymous usage patterns, user notification, and security audits.

ADF's business model is non-commercial: the organisation is primarily funded by state and federal government grants (federally funded for Good Sports with state-level contributions such as the Tasmanian Government's $400,000 over 12 months), supplemented by public donations and a small e-commerce revenue stream from the ADF Shop. All public-facing services — Path2Help, dib, the ADF Library, Drug Facts, and Good Sports — are provided free of charge. The primary customer segments are Australian communities and local organisations, community sporting clubs, government bodies and policymakers, parents and families, and researchers and academics. The Medically Supervised Injecting Centre reference (4,350+ clients, 119,000+ visits, 21+ lives saved, 3,200+ overdoses managed since 2018) indicates the ADF's broader influence on harm reduction infrastructure.

Name

Alcohol and Drug Foundation

Legal name

Alcohol and Drug Foundation

Website

https://adf.org.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

1960

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation is an Australian nonprofit founded around 1960 that prevents alcohol and drug harm nationally through free evidence-based programs including Good Sports (nearly 10,000 club accreditations), Path2Help (matching to 10,000+ support services), the dib AI chatbot, and the ADF Library.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Substance Abuse Prevention Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300)

akta.pro primary industry

Substance Use Disorder Prevention & Recovery Services (BPAGACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Behavioral Health & Substance Use Program Funding (Public Health) (HLAJALAI), Behavioral Health & Substance Use Public Health Programs (BPAIAJAK), Substance Use Recovery & Harm Reduction Support Services (BPAGAEAO), Substance Use, Addiction & Harm Reduction Health Departments (HLAJAAAM), Community Health & Prevention Program Funding (HLAJALAF)

Keywords

• Drug harm prevention
• Community health programs
• Alcohol education services
• Substance misuse prevention
• AOD information services

Headquarters

HQ city

Melbourne

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices9 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Government Grants and Funding: The ADF is proudly evidence-based, independent and funded by state and federal governments. This constitutes the primary revenue stream supporting core operations and national programs including Good Sports.
2. Donations: The ADF accepts donations from the public to support its mission of inspiring positive change and delivering evidence-based approaches to minimise alcohol and drug harm in Australia.
3. ADF Shop Sales: The ADF operates an e-commerce shop (alcohol-and-drug-foundation-shop.myshopify.com) selling educational and support-related products and resources.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion4 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation prevents alcohol and other drug harm across Australia by delivering free evidence-based information, prevention programs, and referral pathways. Its core offerings include the dib AI chatbot, the Path2Help service-matching tool, the Good Sports accreditation program for community sporting clubs, the ADF Library resource collection, and public helplines. All programs and services are provided at no charge to the Australian public, with delivery funded by state and federal government grants.

Product overview

The Alcohol and Drug Foundation operates as a single integrated platform with multiple complementary products and services focused on preventing and reducing alcohol and drug harm in Australia. Core offerings include Path2Help, a question-based matching tool that connects users with over 10,000 local support services; dib, an AI chatbot providing evidence-based AOD information; and the ADF Library, offering access to over 11,000 journals and databases. The Community Hub provides articles, stories, and resources for community engagement. The Good Sports Program extends reach into community sport, while the Help & Support Services Search, Drug Facts database, and DrugInfo Line (1300 85 85 84) provide accessible information and referral pathways across all Australian states and territories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Good Sports: Australia's largest preventative health initiative in community sport, helping clubs create healthy and inclusive environments
• Path2Help
• dib
• ADF Library

Products and services

• Path2Help A free, easy-to-use, confidential online tool that asks users a few quick questions to find tailored support recommendations for someone impacted by alcohol or other drugs; uses a built-in algorithm to match users with over 10,000 support services in their local area.
• dib AI Chatbot A first-of-its-kind anonymous and non-judgmental AI chatbot that provides evidence-based information about alcohol and other drugs in everyday language, drawing answers directly from ADF's website content; has facilitated over 45,000 conversations since launch (May 2025).
• Community Hub An online platform providing information, tools, and ideas to support community connections and conversations about alcohol and other drugs; offers articles, stories, toolkit overviews, and resources for running community activities.
• ADF Library The largest and most up-to-date alcohol and other drugs library in Australia, providing free access to specialist print and online resources including books and full-text articles from 11,000+ journals and databases.
• Good Sports Program Australia's largest preventative health initiative in community sport; supports sporting clubs to build healthy and inclusive environments through structured initiatives around alcohol management, illegal drugs, and mental health; nearly 10,000 community sports clubs across Australia participate and have seen a 37% reduction in risky drinking and 42% reduction in alcohol-related accidents.
• Help & Support Services Search A searchable directory of alcohol and drug support services across all Australian states and territories, powered by Infoxchange, allowing users to filter by location, postcode, and service type to find help near them.
• DrugInfo Line A confidential, non-judgmental telephone (1300 85 85 84) and email information and referral service providing facts about alcohol and other drugs, advice on supporting loved ones, and connections to health and support services.
• Drug Facts Database A comprehensive and trustworthy list of prescription and illegal drugs providing detailed, straightforward information about substances including appearance, short- and long-term effects, withdrawals, and getting help.

Quantifiable outcome

• Good Sports reduces risky drinking at participating clubs by 37% and alcohol-related accidents among members and supporters by 42%
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

AI capability4 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• InfoxchangecoreTechnology or IntegrationThe Help & Support Services search function is powered by Infoxchange, covering Australian services in all states and territories. Path2Help connects users to 10,000+ support services via this platform.
• University of MelbourneminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProfessor Terry Bowles from the University of Melbourne collaborated on the 'Break the Habit' campaign research on habit formation, providing academic expertise on behaviour change science.
• Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT (AMSANT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerADF joined with AMSANT, AADANT, FARE, and NTCOSS to welcome the continuation of the Northern Territory's minimum unit price on alcohol, representing a coalition of health and community organisations advocating for evidence-based alcohol harm policies.
• Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the joint coalition with AMSANT, ADF, FARE, and NTCOSS supporting the continuation of the NT minimum unit price on alcohol and advocating for adequate funding for AOD services across the Territory.
• Foundation for Alcohol Research & Education (FARE)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the joint coalition with AMSANT, AADANT, ADF, and NTCOSS supporting evidence-based alcohol policy reform in the Northern Territory.
• Northern Territory Council of Social Service (NTCOSS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPart of the joint coalition with AMSANT, AADANT, ADF, and FARE supporting continued minimum unit pricing and health-based approaches to alcohol harm in the Northern Territory.
• Australian Government Department of HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Help & Support Services search is supported by the Australian Government Department of Health. The ADF aligns its work with the Australian National Drug Strategy and contributes to the 10-year Preventive Health Strategy.

Scale indicators9 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Healthdirect Australia: Healthdirect Australia is the government-funded national health information service, comparable to ADF's public-information and hotline functions. Both deliver free, evidence-based health information across Australia to consumers, with Healthdirect operating at much broader health scope.
• Shatterproof: Shatterproof is a large US addiction-focused non-profit combining advocacy, education, and treatment access. Comparable at the strategic non-profit-model level - evidence-based advocacy with digital and content distribution - though specialised in opioid addiction versus ADF's broader AOD remit.
• Partnership to End Addiction: Partnership to End Addiction is a US national non-profit addressing addiction through prevention, treatment, and family support, structurally analogous to ADF's combined prevention/information mandate. Useful comparable for a scaled, multi-channel AOD non-profit in a different geography.

Regional players

• Association of Alcohol and other Drug Agencies NT (AADANT): AADANT is the NT's peak body for AOD services, partnering with ADF on cross-jurisdictional advocacy. Regionally focused versus ADF's national footprint, but directly comparable in coalition advocacy and sector representation.

Direct peers

• Foundation for Alcohol Research and Education (FARE): FARE is Australia's leading policy and research-focused alcohol-harm prevention non-profit, directly comparable to ADF's advocacy role. The two organisations regularly co-advocate (NT minimum unit pricing) and compete for the same federal/state prevention funding pool.
• Turning Point (Turning Point Drug and Alcohol Centre): Turning Point provides clinical treatment, research, and workforce development for AOD in Australia, overlapping with ADF's prevention and information mandate. Comparable as an evidence-led, publicly funded AOD organisation serving overlapping Australian communities.
• Lives Lived Well: Lives Lived Well is a Queensland-based AOD treatment and support non-profit with national reach, overlapping with ADF on prevention messaging, family support, and service directories. Listed in the same Path2Help services network ADF helps users access.
• Australian Drug Information Network (ADIN): ADIN is an AOD knowledge hub providing searchable evidence and resources, closely mirroring ADF's library, drug-facts, and information-portal offerings. Comparable as a free, publicly accessible AOD knowledge platform for practitioners and the public.
• Drug ARM Australasia: Drug ARM provides community-based AOD prevention, treatment, and harm-reduction services across Australia, directly comparable to ADF's community-delivery model including community sport and workplace programs. Both target similar state and federal prevention grant funding.

Emerging players

• Quit Victoria / Cancer Council Victoria: Cancer Council Victoria runs Quit, Australia's leading public-health behaviour-change campaign, structurally analogous to ADF's mass-media 'Break the Habit' and 'You haven't been drinking alone' campaigns in combining prevention marketing with research-based advocacy.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UC71_W5kvFBnnTt9u0EeM4gg
• Facebookfacebook.com/alcoholdrugfdn
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/1000798
• Instagraminstagram.com/alcoholdrugfdn
• Xx.com/alcoholdrugfdn

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Alcohol and Drug Foundation