Does pharmaceutical drug use for non-medical purposes vary by geographic location in Australia?
Although slight differences exist between geographic locations, lifetime and past year use of pharmaceutical drugs† for non-medical purposes is generally relatively consistent across major cities, inner regional, and outer regional/remote/very remote areas.
Among Australians living in major cities, 8% have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 3% have done so in the past year. 5% have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 2% have done so in the past year. 0.4% have used methadone/buprenorphine for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 0.1%* have done so in the past year. 11% have used pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 4% have done so in the past year.
Among Australians living in inner regional areas, 8% have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 2% have done so in the past year. 4% have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 1% have done so in the past year. 0.5% have used methadone/buprenorphine for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 0.2%* have done so in the past year. 10% have used pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 4% have done so in the past year.
Among Australians living in outer regional/remote/very remote areas, 9% have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 4% have done so in the past year. 5% have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 1% have done so in the past year. 0.4%* have used methadone/buprenorphine for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 0.0%** have done so in the past year. 12% have used pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes in their lifetime, and 4% have done so in the past year.
* 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.
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.