Attitudes
This section provides an overview of Australians’ opinions regarding tobacco use and smoking.
It uses data from the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024). The NDSHS is a triennial general population survey of Australians' awareness, attitudes, and behaviours relating to alcohol and other drug use. It is the best data source available to provide a national population demographic profile of Australians’ attitudes towards tobacco.
Do Australians think tobacco is the drug that causes the most deaths in Australia?
When Australians were asked which drug they think directly or indirectly causes the most deaths in Australia, 17% chose tobacco.
The largest proportion of people surveyed (39%) thought that alcohol was the drug that caused the most deaths. However, a recent study has determined that 24,000 deaths each year in Australia are attributable to tobacco, compared to approximately 1,600 for alcohol use.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. (NCETA Secondary Analysis 2024).
Do Australians consider tobacco to be a drug problem?
When Australians were asked which drug they first think of when people talk about “a drug problem”, the largest proportion (42%) chose methamphetamine/amphetamine. Two percent chose tobacco.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. (NCETA Secondary Analysis 2024).
Do Australians consider tobacco to be the drug of most serious concern to the community?
When Australians were asked which form of drug use they thought was of most serious concern for the general community, the largest proportion (35%) chose methamphetamine or amphetamine. Eight percent chose tobacco.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. (NCETA Secondary Analysis 2024).
Do Australians approve or disapprove of the regular use of tobacco?
The majority of Australians (58%) disapprove of the regular use of tobacco.
Source: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NCETA Secondary Analysis 2024).