Has the prevalence of meth/amphetamine use in Australia changed over time by age?
Prevalence of lifetime and recent meth/amphetamine† use has decreased among most age groups, with the most dramatic reduction occurring among Australians aged 20-29 years. However, use among 40-49 year olds has increased since 2001.
In 2001, 8% of Australians aged 14-19 years had used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime compared to 7% in 2004, 2% in 2007, 2% in 2010, 2% in 2013, 1%* in 2016, and 2%* in 2019.
In 2001, 22% of Australians aged 20-29 years had used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime compared to 21% in 2004, 16% in 2007, 15% in 2010, 13% in 2013, 8% in 2016, and 7% in 2019.
In 2001, 14% of Australians aged 30-39 years had used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime compared to 16% in 2004, 11% in 2007, 15% in 2010, 15% in 2013, 14% in 2016, and 12% in 2019.
In 2001, 7% of Australians aged 40-49 years had used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime compared to 8% in 2004, 5% in 2007, 7% in 2010, 8% in 2013, 9% in 2016, and 11% in 2019.
In 2001, 1% of Australians aged 50+ years had used meth/amphetamine in their lifetime compared to 1% in 2004, 1% in 2007, 1% in 2010, 2% in 2013, 2% in 2016, and 2% in 2019.
In 2001, 6% of Australians aged 14-19 years had used meth/amphetamine in the past 12 months compared to 4% in 2004, 2% in 2007, 2% in 2010, 2%* in 2013, 0.8%* in 2016, and 0.9%* in 2019.
In 2001, 11% of Australians aged 20-29 years had used meth/amphetamine in the past 12 months compared to 11% in 2004, 7% in 2007, 6% in 2010, 6% in 2013, 3% in 2016, and 2% in 2019.
In 2001, 3% of Australians aged 30-39 years had used meth/amphetamine in the past 12 months compared to 4% in 2004, 4% in 2007, 3% in 2010, 3% in 2013, 2% in 2016, and 2% in 2019.
In 2001, 1% of Australians aged 40-49 years had used meth/amphetamine in the past 12 months compared to 1% in 2004, 1% in 2007, 1% in 2010, 1% in 2013, 2% in 2016, and 2% in 2019.
In 2001, 0.2%* of Australians aged 50+ years had used meth/amphetamine in the past 12 months compared to 0.1%* in 2004, 0.1% in 2007, 0.2% in 2010, 0.2% in 2013, 0.3% in 2016, and 0.4% in 2019.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
† 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.