Has the prevalence of cocaine use in Australia changed over time by age?
Lifetime and past 12 month prevalence of cocaine use among Australians in different age groups between 2001 and 2019 is presented in the graph below.
In 2001, 3% of Australians aged 14-19 years had used cocaine in their lifetime compared to 2% in 2004, 2% in 2007, 2% in 2010, 2% in 2013, 2% in 2016, and 3% in 2019.
In 2001, 10% of Australians aged 20-29 years had used cocaine in their lifetime compared to 9% in 2004, 12% in 2007, 14% in 2010, 14% in 2013, 13% in 2016, and 20% in 2019.
In 2001, 7% of Australians aged 30-39 years had used cocaine in their lifetime compared to 9% in 2004, 11% in 2007, 14% in 2010, 16% in 2013, 19% in 2016, and 19% in 2019.
In 2001, 5% of Australians aged 40-49 years had used cocaine in their lifetime compared to 6% in 2004, 6% in 2007, 8% in 2010, 9% in 2013, 12% in 2016, and 15% in 2019.
In 2001, 0.8% of Australians aged 50+ years had used cocaine in their lifetime compared to 1% in 2004, 2% in 2007, 2% in 2010, 3% in 2013, 3% in 2016, and 4% in 2019.
In 2001, 2% of Australians aged 14-19 years had used cocaine in the past 12 months compared to 1%* in 2004, 1%* in 2007, 1% in 2010, 1%* in 2013, 1%* in 2016, and 2%* in 2019.
In 2001, 4% of Australians aged 20-29 years had used cocaine in the past 12 months compared to 3% in 2004, 5% in 2007, 7% in 2010, 6% in 2013, 7% in 2016, and 12% in 2019.
In 2001, 2% of Australians aged 30-39 years had used cocaine in the past 12 months compared to 2% in 2004, 3% in 2007, 4% in 2010, 4% in 2013, 5% in 2016, and 7% in 2019.
In 2001, 2% of Australians aged 40-49 years had used cocaine in the past 12 months compared to 2% in 2004, 3% in 2007, 4% in 2010, 4% in 2013, 5% in 2016, and 7% in 2019.
In 2001, 0.1%* of Australians aged 50+ years had used cocaine in the past 12 months compared to 0.1%* in 2004, 0.1%* in 2007, 0.1%* in 2010, 0.3% in 2013, 0.2% in 2016, and 0.6% in 2019.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
Please note: No statistical significance testing has been conducted on these data. As a result, no inferences can be made about whether the reported proportions are significantly different from one another.