Are Australians who use pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes more likely to be diagnosed with/treated for mental illnesses, compared to those who use pharmaceutical drugs for medical purposes only?
In general, a larger proportion of Australians who have used pharmaceutical drugs† for non-medical purposes in their lifetime have been diagnosed with/treated for a mental illness, compared to those who have used pharmaceutical drugs for medical purposes only.
27% of Australians who have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in their lifetime have been diagnosed and/or treated for a mental illness compared to 18% who have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 11% who have not used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for any purpose in their lifetime.
33% of Australians who have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes in their lifetime have been diagnosed and/or treated for a mental illness compared to 33% who have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 11% who have not used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for any purpose in their lifetime.
42% of Australians who have used methadone/buprenorphine for non-medical purposes in their lifetime have been diagnosed and/or treated for a mental illness compared to 36% who have used methadone/buprenorphine for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 16% who have not used methadone/buprenorphine for any purpose in their lifetime.
28% of Australians who have used pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes in their lifetime have been diagnosed and/or treated for a mental illness compared to 18% who have used pharmaceutical drugs for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 10% who have not used pharmaceutical drugs for any purpose in their lifetime.
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.
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 medical or 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).
Please note: The proportion of individuals who use pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes and have been diagnosed with a mental illness reported here may differ from other FAQs, due to response rate variations in the source data.
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.
* Estimate has a relative standard error of 25% to 50% and should be used with caution.