Are younger or older Australian employees more likely to have used pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months?
Employed Australians aged 18-24 years tend to use pharmaceutical drugs† for non-medical purposes more often than other age groups.
Pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids were used for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months by 1%** of employed Australians aged 14-17 years, 4% of those aged 18-24 years, 4% of those aged 25-29 years, 3% of those aged 30-39 years, 3% of those aged 40-49 years, 2% of those aged 50-59 years, and 3% of those aged 60+ years.
Tranquillisers/sleeping pills were used for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months by 0.5%** of employed Australians aged 14-17 years, 4% of those aged 18-24 years, 3% of those aged 25-29 years, 2% of those aged 30-39 years, 2% of those aged 40-49 years, 1% of those aged 50-59 years, and 0.9%* of those aged 60+ years.
Pharmaceutical drugs were used for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months by 2%** of employed Australians aged 14-17 years, 7% of those aged 18-24 years, 6% of those aged 25-29 years, 4% of those aged 30-39 years, 4% of those aged 40-49 years, 3% of those aged 50-59 years, and 4% of those aged 60+ years.
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.
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.
** Estimate has a relative standard error greater than 50% and is considered too unreliable for general use.
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.