Is the employment status of Australians related to non-medical pharmaceutical drug use in the past 12 months?
Australians who are not in the labour force are less likely to have used pharmaceutical drugs† for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months than Australians who are employed or unemployed.
3% of employed Australians used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months, compared to 4% of unemployed Australians, and 2% of those not in the labour force.
2% of employed Australians used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months, compared to 2% of unemployed Australians, and 1% of those not in the labour force.
4% of employed Australians used any pharmaceutical drug for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months, compared to 5% of unemployed Australians, and 3% of those not in the labour force.
* 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.
Employment Status: Whether an individual is currently: a) employed; b) unemployed; or c) not in the labour force.
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.
Not in the Labour Force: Engaged in home duties, volunteer/charity work, student, retiree/pensioner, other.
Unemployed: Those who are not currently working and are actively seeking employment.