Does meth/amphetamine use in Australia vary by jurisdiction?

Australians living in Western Australia are most likely to have used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime, while those living in Western Australia and the Northern Territory are most likely to have used in the past 12 months. Australians living in the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania are least likely to have used meth/amphetamine.

5% of Australians living in New South Wales have used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime and 1% have used in the past 12 months.

6% of Australians living in Victoria have used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime and 1% have used in the past 12 months.

5% of Australians living in Queensland have used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime and 1% have used in the past 12 months.

8% of Australians living in Western Australia have used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime and 2% have used in the past 12 months.

7% of Australians living in South Australia have used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime and 1% have used in the past 12 months.

4% of Australians living in Tasmania have used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime and 0.6%* have used in the past 12 months.

4% of Australians living in Australian Capital Territory have used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime and 0.3%** have used in the past 12 months.

7% of Australians living in Northern Territory have used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime and 2%* have used in the past 12 months.

* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.

Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2021).

† Meth/amphetamine: This term covers a range of stimulant drugs including methamphetamine and amphetamine. The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) described meth/amphetamine as including drugs commonly known as speed, ice, crystal, whizz, Ritalin, or pseudoephedrine-based cold and flu tablets.

* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.

** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.