This report presents the findings from the 2001 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, which surveyed over 27,000 participants aged 14 years and over. An overview of Australian drug use, including information on drugs used, drug availability, acceptability of drug use and support for legalisation of illicit drugs is presented. Consumption patterns of tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs including frequency of consumption, age of users and amount consumed are also outlined. Illicit drug use includes statistics for cannabis, heroin, amphetamines, ecstasy and injecting drug use. Other results from the survey include community support for drug-related policy and estimates of the number of victims of drug-related harm. Survey methodology is outlined and compared with previous surveys.
2001 National Drug Strategy Household Survey : first results 
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Reports on the results of the sixth national survey on the use of alcohol by secondary students that was conducted in 1999. 25,486 students aged 12-17 years participated in the study. Experience with alcohol was high amongst secondary students, with use becoming more common as age increased. By the age of 14 around 90% of students had tried alcohol, and by the age of 17 over 70% of students had drunk alcohol in the month prior to the survey. Buying alcohol was also related to age and increased from 5% of 14-year-old boys and girls to 42% of boys and 30% of girls aged 17. The three main places for students to drink were the family home, a friend’s home or a party.
Australian secondary students' use of alcohol in 1999 (135.4 KB)
Reports on the second national survey on the use of over-the-counter and illicit substances by secondary student that was conducted in 1999. Data was collected from a sample of 3999 secondary schools, with a total of 25,486 students aged between 12 and 17 years participating. The most commonly used substance amongst secondary students was analgesics, with 95% of 12-year-old students having used it. Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit substance, with increased use with age. On the other hand, use of inhalants decreased with age. 70% of secondary students had had some experience with hallucinogens. However, there were only low reports of experience with tranquillisers and steroids other than for medical reasons or without doctor’s prescription, amphetamines
Australian secondary students' use of over-the-counter and illicit substances in 1999 
This report presents data on the prevalence of illicit drug use in Australia, based upon the 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. The illicit drug groups researched were cannabis, amphetamines, LSD, cocaine, ecstasy and heroin. For each of these illicit drug groups data is presented for the epidemiology of use, characteristics of users of the drug, patterns of use, harms associated with use and current trends of use. The appendix contains data on the prevalence of use by age and gender.
Illicit drug use in Australia : epidemiology, use patterns and associated harm
This resource contains statistics largely taken from the 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. Statistics are provided on tobacco, alcohol, illicit drugs and pharmaceuticals. Information includes consumption of the substance, patterns of use, household expenditure, government revenue and attitudes to use. Some statistics are presented by state and territory as well as nationally. Information is also provided on morbidity and mortality, crime and law enforcement, polydrug usage, avoidance behaviours and international comparisons. A chapter on special population groups contains data on the use of illicit drugs by Australian secondary students.
Statistics on drug use in Australia 2000 (283.9 KB)