Quick statistics

This is a brief outline of some important Australian statistics on these specific drugs. For more detailed statistics, browse through the resources on our statistics page.

Alcohol

Alcohol is the most widely used drug in Australia.

National Alcohol Indicators Project (NAIP) bulletin 12:Trends in estimated alcohol-attributable deaths and hospitalisations in Australia reports that from 1996-2005, an estimated 32,696 Australians aged over 15 years and older died from alcohol-related injury and disease caused by risky/high risk drinking.

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 87.9% of Australians aged over 14 years had drunk alcohol at some stage in their life.
• 39.5% of drinkers consumed alcohol on a weekly basis.
• The average age at which Australians first tried alcohol was 17.0 years.

Amphetamines

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 7.0% of Australians aged over 14 years had used amphetamines at some stage in their life.
• 2.1% had used them in the previous 12 months.
• The average age at which Australians first tried amphetamines was 20.9 years.

Analgesics

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010, 4.8% of the Australian population aged 14 years and older had used analgesics for non-medical purposes at some stage in their life.

Get the facts on analgesics.

Benzodiazepines

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 3.2% of the Australian population had used tranquillisers/sleeping pills (including benzodiazepines) for non-medical purposes at some stage in their lifetime.
• 1.4% had used benzodiazepines in this way in the previous 12 months.

Cannabis

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• Over 35.4% of Australians aged over 14 years have used cannabis in their lifetime.
• 7.7% had used cannabis in the previous 12 months.

Cocaine

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 7.3% of Australians aged over 14 years had used cocaine at some stage in their life.
• 2.1% had used it in the previous 12 months.
• The average age at which Australians first tried cocaine was 23.3 years.

Ecstasy

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 10.3% of Australians aged over 14 years had used ecstasy at some stage in their life.
• 3.0% had used it in the previous 12 months.
• The average age at which Australians first tried ecstasy was 22.2 years.

GHB

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 0.8% of Australians aged over 14 years had used GHB at some stage in their life.
• 0.1% had used it in the previous 12 months.
• The average age at which Australians first tried GHB was 23.9 years.

Hallucinogens

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 8.8% of Australians aged over 14 years had used hallucinogens (other than cannabis and ecstasy) at some stage in their life.

• 1.4% had used them in the previous 12 months.
• The average age at which people first tried hallucinogens (other than cannabis and ecstasy) was 19.8 years.

Heroin

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 1.4% of the Australian population aged 14 years and older had used heroin at some stage in their lifetime.
• 0.2% had used heroin in the previous 12 months.

Ice

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 2.3% of Australians aged over 14 years had used amphetamines in the previous 12 months.
• Of these, 50.8% had used ice.

Inhalants

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 3.8% of Australians aged over 14 years had used inhalants at some stage in their life.
• 0.4% had used them in the previous 12 months.
• The average age at which Australians first tried inhalants was 19.5 years.

Ketamine

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• 1.4% of Australians aged over 14 years had used ketamine at some stage in their life.
• 0.2% had used it in the previous 12 months.

Tobacco

According to the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, in 2010:

• Males were more likely to be daily smokers than females except in the 12–19 year age group where females were more likely to be daily smokers.
• Smokers aged 14 years or older smoked on average 103.2 cigarettes per week.
• The average age at which Australians had their first full cigarette was 16.0 years.

Last updated: 28 February 2012