Are employed men or employed women in Australia more likely to have used pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months?
Similar proportions of employed Australian men and women have used pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months.
3% of employed Australian men have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months, 2% have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills, and 5% have used any pharmaceutical drug.
2% of employed Australian women have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months, 2% have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills, and 4% have used any pharmaceutical drug.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA secondary analysis, 2021).
† This FAQ uses data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey, which defines the pharmaceutical drugs referred to in this question as: the non-medical use of pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids (oxycodone, morphine, codeine products such as panadeine forte (excluding paracetamol, asprin and ibuprofen where these drugs are the only active ingredients)), tranquillisers/sleeping pills (e.g., sleepers, benzos, tranks, temazzies, temaze, rivotril, serepax, serries, xanax, xannies, stilnox, rohypnol, rowies, valium) and methadone/buprenorphine (e.g., done, junk, jungle juice, bupe, sub).
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
Employed: Self-employed or working for salary or wages.
Non-medical use: A drug used:
- By itself to induce a drug experience or feeling; or
- With other drugs in order to enhance a drug experience.