Attitudes
This section provides an overview of Australians’ attitudes towards cocaine use and cocaine-related legislation.
It draws on data from the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024). The NDSHS is a triennial general population survey of Australians' awareness, attitudes, and behaviours relating to alcohol and other drug use. It is the best data source available to provide a national population demographic profile of Australians’ attitudes towards cocaine use.
Given the small proportion of Australian youth who use cocaine, there is little reliable and meaningful data about this population group available. As a result, this section presents only one FAQ, drawn from the 2022-23 Australian Secondary School Students’ Alcohol and Drug (ASSAD) Survey (Cancer Council Victoria, 2024).
Do Australians think cocaine is the drug that causes most deaths in Australia?
When Australians were asked which drug they think directly or indirectly causes the most deaths in Australia, 5% chose cocaine. Approximately two-fifths (39%) of people thought that alcohol caused the most deaths, while 17% chose tobacco.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
Do Australians consider cocaine use to be a problem?
When Australians were asked which drug they first think of when people talk about “a drug problem”, 12% chose cocaine. Almost half (43%) chose meth/amphetamine.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
Do Australians consider cocaine to be the drug of most serious concern to the community?
When Australians were asked which form of drug use they thought was of most serious concern for the general community, 6% chose cocaine. The non-medical use of meth/amphetamine was considered to be of most serious concern by 35% of Australians.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
Do Australians approve or disapprove of the regular use of cocaine?
The majority of Australians (86%) disapprove of the regular use of cocaine,7% percent neither approve nor disapprove, 3% approve, and 5% don’t know enough to say.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2024).
Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.
Do Australians support or oppose legalising the personal use of cocaine?
Most Australians (72%) oppose legalising the personal use of cocaine. Eleven percent neither support nor oppose legalisation, 10% support it, and 8% don’t know enough to say.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2024).
Do Australians support or oppose increased penalties for the sale or supply of cocaine?
The majority of Australians (67%) support increased penalties for the sale or supply of cocaine. Thirteen percent neither support nor oppose increased penalties, and 12% oppose them. An additional 8% don’t know enough to say.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2024).