How do Aussies feel about drugs? More relaxed than we used to be

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2022-07-15 00:01

Australia

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An Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) report presents data about Australia’s attitudes and perceptions towards drugs by region, based on 2019 surveys. Overall, the report found that about three-in-four Australians aged 14 and over had consumed alcohol in the previous year, more than one-in-ten smoked tobacco daily, and two-in-five had used an illicit drug in their lifetime. On cannabis, support for decriminalisation was 78% nationwide (up from 66% in 2010), although only 41% felt the drug should be fully legalised (up from 25% in 2010). Attitudes towards harder drugs were less relaxed, with just 8% supporting legalisation of cocaine (up from 6.3% in 2010), 9.5% for ecstasy (up from 6.8% in 2010), 5.6% for heroin, and 4.6% for methamphetamines (both figures similar to 2010). On pill testing, three-in-five Aussies said they support it. The report also outlines trends in attitudes toward tobacco and alcohol. Journalists can search for the data for their region using their postcode.

Media release

From: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

MEDIA ALERT: Australia’s attitudes and perceptions towards drugs by region, 2019

Data to be released on Friday, 15 July 2022, embargoed media access in now available.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) is giving journalists embargoed access to Australia’s attitudes and perceptions towards drugs by region, 2019.

This product includes new analysis from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) 2019.
Local media outlets can use the information to produce stories on attitudes and perceptions towards tobacco, alcohol and other drugs in their local area.
Users can enter their postcode, then select from one of four drug categories (tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, and other illicit drugs) and the data will be presented in Q&A format using infographics or graphs.
People surveyed in 2019 were asked about the measures that Australia takes to reduce drug use and drug-related harm. These include government laws for the sale and advertising of tobacco and alcohol, taxes on tobacco products, and government funding of withdrawal management (detoxification) and treatment programs.
The survey also captures important data on emerging issues such as support for pill testing/drug checking services, and emerging policy issues including vaping and medicinal use of cannabis.
The updated analysis is timely as the 2022 NDSHS fieldwork is commencing in July 2022.
The AIHW will not issue a media release but statistical advice is available.

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Organisation/s: Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)

Funder: AIHW

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