Are Australians who use pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes more likely to have high psychological distress compared to those who use pharmaceutical drugs for medical purposes only?
In general, Australians who have used pharmaceutical drugs† for non-medical purposes in the their lifetime are more likely to report high or very high levels of psychological distress, compared to those who use pharmaceutical drugs for medical purposes only.
15% of Australians who have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in their lifetime report high levels of psychological distress compared to 10% who have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 8% who have not used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for any purpose in their lifetime.
9% of Australians who have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in their lifetime report very high levels of psychological distress compared to 5% who have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 3% who have not used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for any purpose in their lifetime.
17% of Australians who have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes in their lifetime report high levels of psychological distress compared to 13% who have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 8% who have not used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for any purpose in their lifetime.
10% of Australians who have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes in their lifetime report very high levels of psychological distress compared to 8% who have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 4% who have not used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for any purpose in their lifetime.
14%* of Australians who have used methadone/buprenorphine for non-medical purposes in their lifetime report high levels of psychological distress compared to 20% who have used methadone/buprenorphine for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 10% who have not used methadone/buprenorphine for any purpose in their lifetime.
18%* of Australians who have used methadone/buprenorphine for non-medical purposes in their lifetime report very high levels of psychological distress compared to 12% who have used methadone/buprenorphine for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 5% who have not used methadone/buprenorphine for any purpose in their lifetime.
15% of Australians who have used pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes in their lifetime report high levels of psychological distress compared to 10% who have used pharmaceutical drugs for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 8% who have not used pharmaceutical drugs for any purpose in their lifetime.
8% of Australians who have used pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes in their lifetime report very high levels of psychological distress compared to 5% who have used pharmaceutical drugs for medical purposes only in their lifetime, and 3% 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.
** 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.
Please note: The proportion of individuals who use pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical reasons and are psychologically distressed reported here may differ from other FAQs, due to response rate variations in the source data.
Non-medical use: Drugs used:
- By itself to induce a drug experience or feeling; or
- With other drugs in order to enhance a drug experience.