Do Australians consider pharmaceutical drug use to be a problem?
When Australians were asked which drug they first think of when people talk about “a drug problem”, 4% chose pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids, 0.7% chose methadone/buprenorphine and 0.5% chose tranquilisers/sleeping pills. Methamphetamine or amphetamine† was the drug most likely to be considered a problem (43%).
When Australians were asked which drug they first think of when people talk about “a drug problem”, 43% chose methamphetamine or amphetamine, 13% cannabis, 12% cocaine, 11% heroin, 7% alcohol, 4% pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids, 2% ecstasy, 2% tobacco, 0.7% methadone/buprenorphine, 0.5% tranquilisers/sleeping pills, 2% other drugs and 3% none/can’t think of any.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
† Methamphetamine or amphetamine: The NDSHS asked about the use of methamphetamine and amphetamine (including the street names speed, crystal and ice) in 2022–2023. In 2019 and prior years, the NDSHS asked about the use of “Meth/amphetamines”, which also included the non‑medical use of pharmaceutical amphetamines, such as Ritalin (methylphenidate) and pseudoephedrine based cold and flu tablets. The change represents a break in the timeseries. Results for methamphetamine and amphetamine in 2022–2023 should not be compared to meth/amphetamines results from previous survey waves.
Please note: For the purpose of this FAQ, pharmaceutical drugs refer to pain-killers/pain relievers/opioids (e.g. Oxycodone, OxyContin, Endone, Morphine, Tapentadol (e.g. Palexia), Fentanyl, Tramadol, Gabapentin, Pregabalin (e.g. Lyrica), Codeine (e.g. Panadeine Forte), methadone/buprenorphine (e.g. Done, Junk, Bupe, B, Subutex, Suboxone, Sub) and tranquillisers/sleeping pills (e.g. Benzodiazepines, Sleepers, Tranks, Diazepam, Temazepam, Mogadon, Rivotril, Serapax, Xanax, Stilnox, Rohypnol, Hypnodom, Valium, Alrax, Alpraxolam).
Percentages may not tally to 100% due to rounding.