Alcohol, tobacco & other drugs in Australia

Demand reduction involves ‘preventing the uptake and delaying the onset of use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs; reducing the misuse of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs in the community; and supporting people to recover from dependence through evidence-informed treatment’ (DoH 2017).

Examples of demand reduction initiatives include:

• information and awareness campaigns
• education and early intervention
• restrictions on the marketing and advertising of tobacco, alcohol and prescription drugs
• drug treatment programs
• programs focused on building protective factors and social engagement.

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS) provides national estimates of the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs among the Australian general population. The 2019 NDSHS shows that tobacco and alcohol are the substances most commonly consumed by the Australian population (AIHW 2020).

While there has been a long-term downward trend in tobacco smoking in Australia and many drinkers consume alcohol responsibly, a substantial proportion of drinkers consume alcohol at a level that increases their risk of alcohol-related harm (Figure HARM2).

Figure HARM2: Tobacco, alcohol or illicit drug use, by use status, people aged 14 and over, 2001 to 2019 (per cent)

View data tables >

An illicit drug is defined as any drug which is illegal to possess or use or any legal drug used in an illegal manner (AIHW 2020). The proportion of people who had used an illicit drug in their lifetime has been gradually increasing in Australia since 2001 (Figure HARM2). In 2019, 43% of people aged 14 and over in Australia had illicitly used a drug at some point in their lifetime and 16.4% had done so in the last 12 months (AIHW 2020, tables 4.2 and 4.6).

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia (AIHW 2020, Table 4.2), which is consistent with international data. The latest World Drug Report indicates that in 2020:

• Cannabis was used in the past year by more than 4.0% of the global population aged 15-64 (209 million people). According to qualitative assessments, cannabis cultivation has trended upward for a decade.
• Cannabis legalisation in parts across the world appears to have accelerated daily use and related health impacts (UNDOC 2022).

For detailed information on the harms, availability and consumption of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs in Australia, see the separate section for each of the Drug types.

Treatment

Alcohol and other drug treatment services assist people to address their substance use through a range of treatments. Treatment objectives can include reduction, stabilisation or cessation of substance use, as well as improving health and social wellbeing. Treatment services can include:

• support monitoring and case management/ care co-ordination
• withdrawal management and rehabilitation programs
• brief interventions, counselling and group therapy including relapse prevention and cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT)
• pharmacotherapy treatments (AIHW 2023).

The Alcohol and Other Drug Treatment Services National Minimum Data Set (AODTS NMDS) provides information on treatment provided to clients by publicly funded AOD treatment services, including government and non-government organisations. In 2021–22, AOD treatment services provided around 228,500 treatment episodes, to around 131,000 clients, a 6% decrease from 2020–21 (AIHW 2023).

Client engagement with a treatment service is limited by the accessibility of the service. The location of a service is a factor which impacts accessibility, particularly for clients who live in Remote and Very remote areas. In 2016–17, just under two-thirds (61%) of closed treatment episodes were provided to clients whose last known place of residence was outside the geographical area in which the treatment agency was located (AIHW 2019).