Where do Australians obtain pharmaceutical drugs for non-medical purposes?
Australians usually obtain both pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids and tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes via a prescription.
Among Australians who have used pain-killers/pain-relievers/opioids for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months, 19% usually obtain them from a friend; 11% from a relative/partner, 5%* from a dealer, 9% from doctor shopping/forged scripts, 46% from a prescription, 1%** from the internet, and 8% from other sources.
Among Australians who have used tranquillisers/sleeping pills for non-medical purposes in the past 12 months, 32% usually obtain them from a friend; 12% from a relative/partner, 3%* from a dealer, 7% from doctor shopping/forged scripts, 34% from a prescription, 0.0%** from the internet, and 13% from other sources.
* 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).
Please note: Percentages may not tall to 100% due to rounding. 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)) and tranquillisers/sleeping pills (e.g., sleepers, benzos, tranks, temazzies, temaze, rivotril, serepax, serries, xanax, xannies, stilnox, rohypnol, rowies, valium).
* 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: A drug used:
- By itself to induce a drug experience or feeling; or
- With other drugs in order to enhance a drug experience.