Introduction

Smoking and alcohol cessation medicines can help people stop or reduce their alcohol and tobacco consumption. Smoking cessation medicines include over-the-counter products such as nicotine patches, as well as medicines that are only available with a prescription from a doctor. Similarly, alcohol cessation medicines are used to help people stop alcohol consumption or maintain abstinence from alcohol. Pharmacotherapy is recommended for all people experiencing moderate to severe alcohol use disorder in Australia and is best used in conjunction with psychosocial support (Haber and Riordan 2021). 

This page focuses on dispensing of prescription smoking and alcohol cessation medicines under Australia’s Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS). For related information on dispensing of selected other prescription medicines under the PBS in this report, see Availability of prescription opioids, benzodiazepines and gabapentinoids in Australia.

Key findings

What data sources are available?

Data on dispensing of smoking and alcohol cessation medicines are available via the PBS data collection, including information on the number of prescriptions (scripts) dispensed and the number of patients supplied at least one script within a given financial year. The PBS also includes data on medicines that may be used for non-medical purposes or carry a risk of potential for harm, including opioids, benzodiazepines and gabapentinoids).

For more information and a full list of item codes, see Technical notes.

Smoking cessation medicines

  • Rates of dispensing for smoking cessation medicines have fluctuated over time, with an overall decline since 2012–13

    Source: AIHW analysis of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data collection

  • Males and people in their 50s and 60s typically have the highest dispensing rates for smoking cessation medicines

    Source: AIHW analysis of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data collection

How many people are dispensed smoking cessation medicines?

Data from the PBS indicate that:

  • Around 381,000 scripts for prescription smoking cessation medicines were dispensed to around 180,000 patients in 2024–25, a crude rate of around 1,400 scripts and 660 patients per 100,000 population (tables PBS61–64).
  • Between 2012–13 and 2024–25, crude dispensing rates fluctuated but overall fell from around 2,200 scripts dispensed and 1,400 patients to 1,400 scripts and 660 patients per 100,000 population (tables PBS62 and PBS64). 

The overall decline in dispensing for smoking cessation medicines may be due to factors including a corresponding decrease in rates of smoking among the general population and disruptions to the global distribution of Varenicline in 2021 (AIHW 2024, TGA 2021). 

Who is most likely to be dispensed smoking cessation medicines?

In 2024–25: 

  • Rates of smoking cessation medicine dispensing were higher for males than females.
  • People in their 50s and 60s had the highest rates of prescriptions dispensed (around 2,900 and around 3,200 scripts per 100,000 population, respectively) and patients dispensed a script (around 1,400 patients per 100,000 for both groups).
  • Males aged 60–69 had the highest rates of scripts dispensed (around 3,300 scripts per 100,000) while the rates of patients who were dispensed smoking cessation prescriptions were highest among males aged 60–69 and 50–59 (around 1,400 patients per 100,000 population for both groups) (tables PBS66 and PBS6).

For detailed information on dispensing of smoking cessation medicines among older people in this report, see Older people's experiences of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Alcohol cessation medicines

  • The number of patients who were dispensed a script for an alcohol cessation medicine more than doubled between 2012–13 and 2024–25

    Source: AIHW analysis of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data collection

  • Males and people in their 40s and 50s typically have the highest dispensing rates for alcohol cessation medicines

    Source: AIHW analysis of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme data collection

How many people are dispensed alcohol cessation medicines?

Data from the PBS indicated that:

  • Approximately 134,000 scripts for alcohol cessation medicines were dispensed to around 48,900 patients in 2024–25 (a crude rate of around 490 scripts dispensed and 180 patients per 100,000 population). 
  • The number of patients who were dispensed alcohol cessation medicines more than doubled between 2012–13 and 2024–25 from around 20,600 to around 48,900.
  • Crude rates of dispensing rose between 2012–13 and 2024–25, from 245 scripts and 90 patients per 100,000 population to around 490 scripts and 180 patients per 100,000 population (tables PBS77–80).

Who is most likely to be dispensed alcohol cessation medicines?

In 2024–25, consistent with previous years:

  • Males had higher crude rates of alcohol cessation medicine dispensing than females. 
  • Males aged 40–49 and 50–59 had the highest rate of scripts dispensed of any group (around 1,200 patients per 100,000 population for both groups), while males aged 40–49 had the highest rate of patients (around 470 patients per 100,000 population).
  • People aged 40–49 and 50–59 had the highest rates of dispensing of any age group (tables PBS82 and PBS84).

For detailed information on dispensing of alcohol cessation medicines among older people in this report, see Older people's experiences of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.

Does dispensing of smoking and alcohol cessation medicines vary by geographic area?

Rates of dispensing for smoking and alcohol cessation medicines are typically highest in regional areas of Australia and vary across states and territories. 

For detailed information on dispensing of smoking and alcohol cessation medicines by geographic area, see State and territory data and Remoteness areas.

Where do I go for more information?