What types of pharmaceutical drugs do Australians use for non-medical purposes?
Pharmaceutical drugs† that Australians have used for non-medical purposes in their lifetime include pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids (5%), tranquillisers/sleeping pills (4%) and methadone/buprenorphine (0.2%).
In the past year, 2% of Australians used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids and 2% used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes. Very few reported recently using methadone/buprenorphine for non-medical purposes.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.
†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., Benzodiazepines, Sleepers, Diazapam, Tranks, Temazepam, Mogadon, Rivotril, Serapax, Xanax, Stilnox, Rohypnol, Hypnodorm, Valium, Alprax, Alprazolam) and methadone/buprenorphine (e.g., Done, Junk, Bupe, Sub).
Non-medical use:
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Using a drug for recreational purposes to induce or enhance a drug experience
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Using a pharmaceutical drug in a way that it was not prescribed / recommended (e.g. using it to enhance the effects of an illicit drug, taking it more frequently or at higher doses to induce a feeling, for performance enhancement including athletic and academic performance, or for weight loss).