What proportion of Australians has met the diagnostic criteria for an alcohol disorder in the past 12 months?
In 2020-22, 14% of the Australian population (aged 16-85) had met the diagnostic criteria for harmful alcohol use and 4% had met the diagnostic criteria for alcohol dependence at some time in their life.
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.