This web-based release presents a summary of the national findings from the 2016 National Drug Strategy Household Survey. The 2016 NDSHS show that younger people (aged under 30) were smoking less, drinking less and using fewer illicit drugs in 2016 than in 2001. However, for people in their 40s, 50s and 60s, there was little to no change in drug usage behaviours over this period but their use of some drugs has increased between 2013 and 2016.

Note: Revisions for physical abuse estimates were updated April 2020.

  • Cat. no: WEB 180
Findings from this report:

  • Daily smoking nearly halved from 24% in 1991 to 12.8% in 2013, but showed little change from 2013 to 2016 (12.2%)

  • Most commonly used illegal drugs in the past 12 months were cannabis (10%), cocaine (2.5%), and ecstasy (2.2%)

  • About 1 in 20 Australians had misused pharmaceuticals in 2016 (4.8%) and 3.6% had misused painkillers/opiates

  • Most meth/amphetamine users are now using 'ice' as their main from, increasing from 22% in 2010 to 57% in 2016