Does the proportion of Australians that has met the diagnostic criteria for an alcohol disorder at some time in their life differ by gender?
Australian men are more likely than women to have met the diagnostic criteria for an alcohol disorder at some time in their life.
20% of Australian men have met the diagnostic criteria for harmful alcohol use in their lifetime, compared to 9% of women.
5% of Australian men have met the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence in their lifetime, compared to 3% of women.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics (2024). 2020-22 National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing: Summary of results.
Dependence: A maladaptive pattern of use in which the use of drugs or alcohol takes on a much higher priority for a person than other behaviours that once had greater value. The central characteristic is the strong, sometimes overpowering, desire to take the substance despite significant substance-related problems.
Harmful Use: A pattern of use of alcohol or drugs that is responsible for (or substantially contributes to) physical or psychological harm, including impaired judgement or dysfunctional behaviour.