Two new reports released today by the Australian Institute of
Health and Welfare show that regular alcohol consumption is
socially approved by 60% of adult Australians.
Around 40% approve of regular tobacco smoking, while 26% thought
regular marijuana use by adults was acceptable.
In contrast, very few (less than 5% in most cases) approved of
the regular use of other illicit drugs such as heroin, cocaine,
Ecstasy and amphetamines.
Australians are also much more likely to link drug 'problems'
with illicit drugs such as heroin and cocaine rather than tobacco
or alcohol.
The reports, 1998 National Drug Strategy Household Survey:
detailed findings and 1998 National Drug Strategy
Household Survey: State and Territory Results, follow earlier
results published by the Institute last year, but extend to
analyses of the social and health effects of drug use.
The reports show that around 24% of Australians drink either
daily or on most days of the week, while 22% smoke every day or on
most days.
However, about 74% of current smokers had made some effort to
quit smoking in the past 12 months. Almost 40% of non-smokers or
former smokers avoided places where they could be exposed to other
people's cigarette smoke. About 2 out of 5 Australians correctly
recognised that tobacco was the greatest cause of drug-related
deaths in Australia.
Co-author of State and Territory Results, Gerard Fitzsimmons,
said that around 75% of people who smoke daily started before they
were 20 years of age.
'The proportion of people who smoke regularly was highest among
the 20-29-year-olds at 32%,' Mr Fitzsimmons said.
Alcohol is the second major cause of drug-related deaths. The
ACT had the highest proportion of regular drinkers (at least once a
week) at 57%, with Tasmania the lowest at 46%.
More than 9 out of 10 people who usually drank three or more
drinks in one session said they limited the number of drinks in an
evening-or refused an alcoholic drink when they did not want
it.
Across Australia, there was consistent support for tougher
penalties against: drunk drivers, supplying cigarettes to people
under age, and for the sale and supply of drugs such as heroin,
amphetamines and cocaine.
20 December 2000
Further information: Pramod Adhikari
(co-author, detailed findings), tel. 02 6289 8288
Gerard Fitzsimmons (State and Territory results), tel.
02. 6244 1105
For media copies of the report: Publications Officer,
tel. 02 6244 1032.
Availability: Check the AIHW Publications
Catalogue for availability.