Data sources
The data presented in this report are sourced from a range of different data collections from several agencies and organisations, including the:
- Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW)
- Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS)
- Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)
- Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC)
- National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC).
Each of the data sources provide a part of the story of alcohol, tobacco and drug use. Data sources include a range of methodologies such as:
- General population surveys (e.g. the National Drug Strategy Household Survey)
- Surveys of sentinel populations (e.g. the Illicit Drug Reporting System, the Drug Use Monitoring in Australia program and the National Needle Syringe Program)
- Population consumption data (e.g. the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program and Apparent Consumption of Alcohol, Australia)
- Administrative data (e.g. Criminal Courts data).
Consolidating these data sources across multiple collections into one place provides a more complete story of current and emerging trends. However, it is also important to note methodological differences that can influence the comparability of results across collections (for example, see Technical notes: Comparison of national data sources on smoking and alcohol consumption).
The data contained in this report will be updated when more recent data become available. Further information about the data sources used in this report are available here.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics
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Source year
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Data source
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Frequency of publication
|
Information
|
|
2012–13
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Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey
|
Every 6 years
|
Includes a range of health data including behavioural health risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and illicit drug use for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. It combines the ABS National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) with a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey (NATSINPAS) and a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Measures Survey (NATSIHMS).
|
| 2014–15 |
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Survey |
Every 6 years |
Health risk factors in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander persons such as smoking rates, alcohol consumption and substance use. |
| 2016 |
Personal Safety Survey |
Every 4 years |
The survey collected information about the nature and extent of violence experienced by men and women since the age of 15, including their experience of violence in the 12 months prior to the survey. |
| 2016 to 2020 |
Causes of Death, Australia |
Annual |
Provides details on causes of death in Australia and demographics for all deaths registered in Australia annually. |
|
2017–18
|
National Health Survey
|
Every 3 years
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Smoking rates, alcohol consumption and substance use, and links to other health issues.
|
|
2017–18
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Apparent consumption of alcohol
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Annual
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Estimates of apparent consumption of alcohol based on the availability of alcoholic beverages in Australia.
|
| 2018–19 |
National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey |
Every 6 years |
Includes a range of health data including behavioural health risk factors such as smoking, alcohol consumption and illicit drug use for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. |
|
2019–20
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Recorded Crime - Offenders
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Annual
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Persons proceeded against by police by principal offence (broadly illicit drugs).
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|
2019–20
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Criminal Courts Australia
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Annual
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Defendants finalised by principal offences (broadly illicit drugs).
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|
2019–20
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Crime Victimisation Australia
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Annual
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People's experiences of a selected range of personal and household crimes.
|
|
2020
|
Prisoners in Australia
|
Annual
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National statistics on all persons remanded or sentenced to adult custodial corrective services.
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Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
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Source year
|
Data source
|
Frequency of publication
|
Information
|
|
2019–20
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Illicit Drug Data Report
|
Annual
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National data on the illicit drug market, including arrests, detections, seizures, purity, profiling and price data.
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|
Several
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National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program (NWDMP) Report
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3 times a year
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The NWDMP measures the presence of 12 drugs (both licit and illicit) in samples obtained from wastewater treatment plants in capital city and regional sites across Australia.
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Source: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre
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Source year
|
Data source
|
Frequency of publication
|
Information
|
| 2018–19 |
Trends in drug-induced deaths in Australia, 1997–2019 |
|
A suite of products summarising trends in drug-induced deaths in Australia from 1997–2019. |
| 2018–19 |
Trends in drug-related hospitalisations in Australia, 1997–2019 |
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A suite of products summarising trends in drug-related hospitalisations in Australia from 1997–2019. |
|
2020
|
Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS)
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Annual
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A national illicit drug monitoring system with interviews with a sample of regular injecting drug users, interviews with experts and additional contextual information. The IDRS monitors the price, purity and availability of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis and other drugs. Along with trends in the use and harms of these drugs.
|
|
2020
|
The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS)
|
Annual
|
The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) is a national monitoring system for ecstasy and related drugs that is intended to identify emerging trends of local and national interest in the markets for these drugs.
|
| 2021 |
The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) |
Annual |
The Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS) is a national monitoring system for ecstasy and related drugs that is intended to identify emerging trends of local and national interest in the markets for these drugs. |
| 2021 |
Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) |
Annual |
A national illicit drug monitoring system with interviews with a sample of people who regularly inject drugs. The IDRS monitors the price, purity and availability of heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine, cannabis and other drugs. Along with trends in the use and harms of these drugs. |
Source: National Drug Research Institute
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Source year
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Data source
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Frequency of publication
|
Information
|
|
2016–17
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Young Australians Alcohol Reporting System (YAARS)
|
Ad hoc
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Non–random national sample 3,400 risky drinkers. The participants were recruited online and screened to check whether their qualified to be in the top 25% of risky drinkers. The survey looks into the risky drinking patterns of adolescents aged 14–19, by taking a ‘snapshot’ of the details of their most recent risky drinking occasion.
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Source: The Kirby Institute
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Source year
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Data source
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Frequency of publication
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Information
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|
2021
|
Australian Needle Syringe Program Survey National Data Report |
Annual
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The Australian Needle and Syringe Program Survey (ANSPS) provides serial point prevalence estimates of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) antibodies and sexual and injecting risk behaviour among people who inject drugs (PWID) in Australia.
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Source: Bureau of Infrastructure and Regional Development
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Source year
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Data source
|
Frequency of publication
|
Information
|
|
2018
|
Road trauma Australia 2018 statistical summary
|
Annual
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Provides annual data on road fatalities and includes data on road trauma incidents involving alcohol.
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Source: International
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Source year
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Data source
|
Frequency of publication
|
Information
|
|
2021
|
OECD – Health Statistics 2021
|
Annual
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Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development includes prevalence of smoking and alcohol consumption by country, mortality and morbidity statistics and pharmaceuticals.
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|
2022
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UNODC – World Drug Report 2022
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Annual
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United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime data from a range of counties—includes supply, prevalence, price, and treatment data.
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