Does lifetime pharmaceutical drug use in Australia vary by geographic location?
Lifetime use of pharmaceutical drugs† tends to be slightly higher in inner regional areas, compared to major cities and outer regional/remote/very remote locations. The exception to this is methadone/buprenorphine use, which is relatively similar across geographic locations.
Among Australians living in major cities, 64% have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids during their lifetime; 25% have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills; 1% have used methadone/buprenorphine; and 67% have used any pharmaceutical drug.
Among Australians living in inner regional areas, 70% have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids during their lifetime; 27% have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills; 1% have used methadone/buprenorphine; and 72% have used any pharmaceutical drug.
Among Australians living in outer regional/remote/very remote areas, 69% have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids during their lifetime; 23% have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills; 0.9% have used methadone/buprenorphine; and 71% 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 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).
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.