Health of the Nation: Illicit drugs and vaping on the rise in Australia

An new survey has found that while smoking and alcohol consumption are in decline, the use of illicit drugs and vaping is on the rise in Australia.

There have been huge changes in the use of drugs, alcohol and smoking in recent decades.

Smoking and alcohol consumption are in decline while the use of illicit drugs and vaping is on the rise.

More and more people are turning to non-alcoholic beer, wine and spirit substitutes.

However, the rise of vaping is threatening to undo the long hard work governments and preventive health bodies put into slashing the smoking rate.

Health Minister Mark Butler introduced drastic new rules to ban the import of disposable vapes from January 1 to curtail the use of the products.

Cannabis is the most used illicit drug in Australia and NSW Victoria and Western Australia are under pressure to follow the ACT’s move to decriminalize possession of small quantities of the drug for personal use.

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ALCOHOL

Our survey found consumption of alcohol has fallen with one in two Aussies (49 per cent) drinking more than once a week while one in five (23 per cent) never drink.

Surprisingly our heaviest drinkers were those aged over 70. One in five in this age group (19 per cent) drank daily and one in 10 people (9 per cent) aged 50-69 drank daily.

This compares to just 2 per cent of 18-29 year olds.

Australia’s heaviest drinkers were those aged over 70.

One in three parents (35 per cent) drink more than 2-3 times a week

Alcohol consumption reached extremely high levels during the pandemic lockdowns but now one in three people say they are drinking less than two years ago. Half (55 per cent) of drinkers abstain in some way during the year – 17 per cent one or 2 days a week, 10 per cent don’t drink on week days.

Half (44 per cent) of those who cut back did so to save money as cost of living increases started to bite with 40 per cent reduced for health reasons and one in eight because their social circle changed.

WHAT PERCENTAGE OF AUSTRALIANS SMOKE, VAPE?

The proportion of daily smokers has been declining and more than halved in the past 30 years yet our survey has found one in five (19 per cent) of Australians smoke cigarettes, 11 per cent vape and 4 per cent do both.

Worryingly it was the younger generation –19-49 year olds – who were most likely to smoke or vape. One in eight (12 per cent) young adults 18-29 with no kids smoked cigarettes and 17 per cent vaped.

Among parents, one in four (23 per cent) smoke and 8 per cent vape.

One in eight (12 per cent) young adults 18-29 with no kids smoked cigarettes and 17 per cent vaped.

Those aged 30-49 were the most likely to puff on cigarettes with 24 per cent smoking tobacco and 10 per cent vaping.

Ninety per cent of the over 70s did not smoke even though they grew up in a generation where it was more acceptable, and only 1 per cent in this age group vaped.

Even though smoking can harm the health of a baby, 18 per cent of people in the pre and post baby category smoke and 15 per cent vape.

RECREATIONAL DRUGS

The use of illicit drugs is on the rise in Australia and our survey found one in five Aussies had used them with half of those partaking more than once a month.

Of those who used illicit substances nearly seven in ten (68 per cent) use marijuana, 26 per cent have tried cocaine, 22 per cent use ice and 69 per cent of them using it monthly or more.

One in five use ecstasy while other drugs including prescription medications, LSD, magic mushrooms and ketamine are each used by around 10 per cent of the drug-using population.

One in four Australians (23 per cent) missed work more than once because of drug use.

Originally published as Health of the Nation: Illicit drugs and vaping on the rise in Australia