Western Australian Results · Draper G, Serafino S (2005). 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: Western Australian Results. ISSN 1329-7252 Acknowledgements: From the Epidemiology

2004 National Drug Strategy Household SurveyWestern Australian Results

Epidemiology Occasional Paper no 28

Epidemiology Branch Drug and Alcohol Office

2004 National Drug Strategy Household

Survey Western Australia results

June 2006

Epidemiology Branch, Department of Health WA

Drug and Alcohol Office

Suggested citation: Draper G, Serafino S (2005). 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: Western Australian Results.

ISSN 1329-7252

Acknowledgements:

From the Epidemiology Branch Leanne Buckenara

Kathy Crouchley

Audrey Garden

Caron Molster

Mark Peel

Sylvie Price

Peter Somerford

From the Drug and Alcohol Office Gary Kirby

Julia Knapton

Greg Swensen

Dace Tomsons

From the Tobacco Control Branch Dishan Weerasooriya

The authors would like to thank Mark Cooper-Stanbury from the AIHW who, in addition to providing statistical advice on survey methodology, also reviewed the final document.

Enquiries regarding the statistical content or methodology of this report should be directed to the Epidemiology Branch, Department of Health WA. PH: (08) 9222 4268

Enquiries regarding policy or treatment services should be directed to the Drug and Alcohol Office.

PH (08) 9370 0333

Enquiries regarding the National Drug Strategy Household Survey should be directed to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

PH (02) 6244 1000

ii

Abbreviations AIHW.......................................................... Australian Institute of Health and Welfare

AHS ............................................................................................... Area Health Service

CATI ..............................................................Computer Assisted Telephone Interview

CCMES....................................... Cannabis Cautioning Mandatory Education Scheme

CES ................................................................................... Cannabis Education Session

CIN................................................................................. Cannabis Infringement Notice

TCB ........................................................................................Tobacco Control Branch

NDSHS .......................................................National Drug Strategy Household Survey

NHMRC..............................................National Health and Medical Research Council

NTS ......................................................................................National Tobacco Strategy

IRSD ................................................................. Index of Relative Social Disadvantage

WADAS ............................................. Western Australian Drug and Alcohol Strategy

WATAP ..............................The Western Australian Tobacco Action Plan (WA TAP)

Symbols – Nil or rounded to zero

.. Not asked

# 2004 result significantly different from 2001 result (2-tailed α = 0.05)

* Relative standard error greater than 50%

iii

Definitions

Recent smoker A recent smoker was a person who had smoked 100 cigarettes (manufactured and/or roll your own) or the equivalent tobacco in their life, and had not since permanently ceased smoking.

Ex-smoker An ex-smoker was a person who has smoked at least 100 cigarettes (manufactured and/or roll your own) or the equivalent tobacco in their life, but reported no longer smoking.

Never smoked A person who had not smoked 100 cigarettes (manufactured and/or roll your own) or the equivalent tobacco in their life was deemed to have never smoked.

Recent drinker A recent drinker was a person who consumed a full serve of alcohol in the last 12 months.

Ex-drinker An ex-drinker was a person who had consumed a full serve of alcohol, but not in the past 12 months.

Never drinker A never drinker was a person who had never had a full serve of alcohol.

Illicit drugs Illegal drugs, drugs and volatile substances used illicitly or inappropriately, and pharmaceuticals used for non-medical purposes.

Non-medical drug use The definition used in the survey questionnaire and for this publication is:

1. either alone or with other drugs in order to induce or enhance a drug experience

2. for performance (e.g. athletic) enhancement

3. for cosmetic (e.g. body shaping) purposes.

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Contents Abbreviations......................................................................................................................................iii

Symbols ..............................................................................................................................................iii

Definitions ..........................................................................................................................................iv

List of tables ......................................................................................................................................vii

Summary of findings ...........................................................................................................................x

Introduction .........................................................................................................................................1

Overview—the status of drug use in 2004 ................................................................................................4

Lifetime use of drugs ...........................................................................................................................4

Drugs used in the past 12 months ........................................................................................................7

Drugs thought to be associated with a drug problem.........................................................................13

Acceptability of drug use...................................................................................................................14

Nominal distribution of drugs budget ................................................................................................19

Support for increased penalties for the sale or supply of illicit drugs................................................19

Population groups ..................................................................................................................................20

Western Australian health areas.........................................................................................................20

Area based socioeconomic disadvantage...........................................................................................22

Consumption patterns.............................................................................................................................25

Tobacco .............................................................................................................................................25

Alcohol ..............................................................................................................................................29

Illicit drugs .............................................................................................................................................35

Any illicit ...........................................................................................................................................35

Marijuana/cannabis............................................................................................................................37

Heroin ................................................................................................................................................43

Amphetamines ...................................................................................................................................44

Ecstasy ...............................................................................................................................................45

Painkillers ..........................................................................................................................................46

Tranquillisers .....................................................................................................................................47

Steroids ..............................................................................................................................................48

Barbiturates........................................................................................................................................49

Inhalants.............................................................................................................................................50

Methadone .........................................................................................................................................51

Cocaine ..............................................................................................................................................52

Hallucinogens ....................................................................................................................................53

Other opiates......................................................................................................................................54

Injected drugs ....................................................................................................................................55

Supply................................................................................................................................................57

v

Community support for drug-related behaviours and policy..................................................................58

Tobacco .............................................................................................................................................58

Alcohol ..............................................................................................................................................61

Marijuana...........................................................................................................................................65

Heroin ................................................................................................................................................66

Drug related harm..................................................................................................................................67

Activities undertaken while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs .......................................67

Victims of drug-related harm.............................................................................................................70

Injuries resulting from drug-related physical abuse...........................................................................72

Methods ..................................................................................................................................................74

The 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey........................................................................74

Western Australian Health Areas.......................................................................................................75

Area based socioeconomic disadvantage...........................................................................................76

References ..............................................................................................................................................77

vi

List of tables Table 1: Summary of drugs ever used, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex,

WA, 2001 and 2004 .......................................................................................................... 4

Table 2: Summary of drugs ever used, population estimates by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004 ................................................................................................. 6

Table 3: Summary of recent drug use proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 .......................................................................................................... 7

Table 4: Summary of recent drug use population estimate by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004 .......................................................................................................... 9

Table 5: Mean age of initiation of lifetime drug use by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 10

Table 6: Offered or had the opportunity to use selected drugs: proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004.................................................................... 11

Table 7: Offered or had the opportunity to use selected drugs, proportion of the population by age, WA, 2001 and 2004 ........................................................................................................ 12

Table 8: Proportion of the population aged 14 years and over who associate specific drugs with a drug “problem’, by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ................................................................. 13

Table 9: Acceptability of regular drug use by adults: proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ............................................................................. 14

Table 10: Acceptability of regular drug use by adults, WA males by age group, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 15

Table 11: Acceptability of regular drug use by adults: WA females by age group, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 16

Table 12: Acceptability of regular drug use by adults: persons aged 14 years and over by age group, WA, 2001 and 2004 ........................................................................................................ 17

Table 13: Support for the personal use of selected drugs being made legal, persons aged 14 years and over by sex and age group, WA, 2001 and 2004...................................................... 18

Table 14: Preferred distribution of a hypothetical $100 for reducing the use of selected drugs, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004..................................................... 19

Table 15: Support for increased penalties for the sale or supply of selected illicit drugs, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 .......................... 19

Table 16: Summary of drugs ever used, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by WA Area Health Services, 2004............................................................................................. 20

Table 17: Summary of illicit drugs recently used, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by WA Area Health Areas, 2004 ............................................................................ 21

Table 18: Tobacco smoking status by IRSD, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2004............. 22

Table 19: Alcohol drinking status by IRSD, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2004.............. 23

Table 20: Summary of drugs ever used, proportion of the population by IRSD, WA, 2004 .......... 23

Table 21: Summary of recent drug use proportion of the population by IRSD, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 24

Table 22: Tobacco smoking status, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ........................................................................................................ 25

Table 23: Tobacco smoking status by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ............................. 26

Table 24: Tobacco smoking status, persons aged 18 years and over by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 27

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Table 25: Recent tobacco smokers: mean number of cigarettes smoked per week by age and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ........................................................................................................ 28

Table 26: Alcohol drinking status, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 29

Table 27: Alcohol drinking status by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 .............................. 30

Table 28: Number of standard drinks usually consumed, recent drinkers by age and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 31

Table 29: Alcohol consumption, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over at risk of harm in the long-term by age and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 .................................................... 33

Table 30: Alcohol consumption: proportion of the population aged 14 years and over at risk of harm in the short term, by age and sex, Australia, 2001 and 2004........................................... 34

Table 31: Use of any illicit drug by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004................................. 35

Table 32: Use of any 6 illicit drugs by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ............................ 36

Table 33: Use of marijuana by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ........................................ 37

Table 34: Frequency of marijuana use by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 38

Table 35: Frequency of marijuana use by age, WA, 2001 and 2004............................................... 38

Table 36: Recent marijuana users: mean number of cones, bongs or joints per day, persons aged 14 years by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................... 39

Table 37: Proportion of those who have used each form of marijuana in previous year by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 39

Table 38: Marijuana, method of use by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 40

Table 39: Marijuana, method of use by age, WA, 2001 and 2004 .................................................. 40

Table 40: Drugs used at the same time as marijuana by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 41

Table 41: Drugs used at the same time as marijuana by sex, WA, persons aged 14 years and over, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 42

Table 42: Use of heroin by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004.............................................. 43

Table 43: Use of amphetamines by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ................................. 44

Table 44: Use of ecstasy by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004............................................. 45

Table 45: Use of painkillers by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ....................................... 46

Table 46: Use of tranquillisers by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ................................... 47

Table 47: Use of steroids by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004............................................ 48

Table 48: Use of barbiturates by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ..................................... 49

Table 49: Use of inhalants by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004.......................................... 50

Table 50: Use of methadone by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004....................................... 51

Table 51: Use of cocaine by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004............................................ 52

Table 52: Use of hallucinogens by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 .................................. 53

Table 53: Use of other opiates by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004.................................... 54

Table 54: Use of injecting drugs by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ................................ 55

Table 55: Injecting drug use, first and most recent drug injected, persons aged 14 years and over who have ever injected a drug by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 ........................................... 56

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Table 56: Source of supply of illicit drugs, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 57

Table 57: Support for tobacco measures, persons aged 14 years and over by age and sex and location, WA, 2001 and 2004 ......................................................................................... 58

Table 58: Support for tobacco measures by age group, WA, 2001 and 2004 ................................. 59

Table 59: Support for tobacco measures by smoking status, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 60

Table 60: Support for measures to reduce problems associated with the excessive use of alcohol by sex and location, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004......................... 61

Table 61: Support for measures to reduce problems associated with the excessive use of alcohol by age, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................. 62

Table 62: Support for measures to reduce problems associated with the excessive use of alcohol by drinking status, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004 ........................... 63

Table 63: Support for measures related to the use of marijuana by sex and location, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2004.............................................................................................. 65

Table 64: Support for measures related to the use of marijuana by age, WA, 2004 ....................... 65

Table 65: Support for measures to reduce problems associated with heroin use, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004 ............................................................................... 66

Table 66: Activities undertaken while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004.................................................................. 67

Table 67: Activities undertaken by WA males while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs by age, 2001 and 2004 .................................................................................................... 68

Table 68: Activities undertaken by WA females while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs by age, 2001 and 2004 .................................................................................................... 69

Table 69: Victims of alcohol or other drug-related incidents by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004 ........................................................................................................ 70

Table 70: Victims of alcohol or other drug-related incidents by age, WA, 2001 and 2004 ............ 71

Table 71: Most serious physical injury sustained as a result of physical abuse from a person under the influence of alcohol or other drugs by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004................................................................................................................. 72

Table 72: Most serious physical injury sustained as a result of physical abuse from a person under the influence of alcohol or other drugs by age, WA, 2001 and 2004.............................. 73

ix

Summary of findings

Tobacco • In 2004, an estimated 300,600 (19%) Western Australians aged 14 years and over

had smoked tobacco at least once in the previous year.

• Around 15.5% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over smoked tobacco on a daily basis in 2004. This equated to approximately 250,000 persons and was a significant decrease from 2001 when around 20% were daily smokers.

• The average Western Australian smoked their first full cigarette at 15.5 years of age.

• In 2004, 40% of WA males and females aged 14 years and over considered the regular use of tobacco acceptable.

Alcohol • Around 1.4 million Western Australians (87%) aged 14 years and over stated that

they had consumed alcohol in the previous year.

• On average, WA males and females have their first full glass of alcohol when they are 16.3 years of age.

• Around 10% of those aged 14 years and over consumed alcohol on daily a basis, while an additional 47% drank at least weekly.

• More than 11% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over drank at levels in 2004 that put them at risk of harm in the long term.

• At least 40% of WA Western Australians aged 14 years and over drank at levels putting them at risk of harm in the short term.

• Over 80% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over in 2004 considered the regular use of alcohol acceptable.

• In 2004, 19% of Western Australians stated that they had driven a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

• Around 28% of those aged 14 years and over stated that they had been victims of verbal abuse from someone under the influence of alcohol in 2004, while 12% were put in fear and 6% were physically abused.

x

Illicit drugs • In 2004, an estimated 637,000 (40%) Western Australians aged 14 years and over

had used marijuana, 195,000 (14%) had used amphetamines, 151,800 (10%) had used hallucinogens and 161,800 (10%) had used ecstasy.

• There was a significant fall in the proportion of people who had recently used (in the previous year) marijuana from 18% in 2001 to 14% in 2004. This equates to an estimated 220,000 recent marijuana users in 2004. Of these, around 127,000 persons (8%) had used marijuana in the previous month.

• In 2004, 72,000 Western Australians had recently used amphetamines, 66,000 had used ecstasy and 19,000 had used hallucinogens.

• On average, Western Australians first used marijuana when they were 18.8 years of age and ecstasy at 22.2 years.

• In 2004, 24% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over considered the regular use of marijuana acceptable, while 28% supported the use of marijuana being made legal. Support for the legalisation of marijuana fell significantly from 35% in 2001.

• Around 56% of those aged 14 years and over supported increased penalties for the sale and supply of marijuana (heroin 88%, amphetamines 85% and cocaine 86%).

• In 2004, around 4% of persons aged 14 years and over stated that they had driven a motor vehicle while under the influence of an illicit drug.

xi

Introduction The 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Drug Survey (NDSHS) was the eighth conducted under the auspices of the National Drug Strategy (formerly known as the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse). Previous surveys were conducted in 1985, 1988, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1998 and 2001.

The 2004 NDSHS project was approved by both the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) Health Ethics Committee and the Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing’s Ethics Committee. For the second time, the survey was conducted under AIHW legislation, providing a very high level of protection to the personal information collected in the survey. Custody of the survey data set rests with the AIHW and is protected by the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987.

Alcohol and other drugs in Western Australia The use of alcohol and other drugs affects the entire Western Australian community and reducing the negative impact of their use is a major priority of the State government. The government is committed to “Putting People First”. This commitment ensures that alcohol and other drug-related problems are treated primarily as social and health issues, rather than a simple law enforcement approach.

As outlined in the WA Drug and Alcohol Strategy 2005-2009 (WADAS), the WA government has set in place a number of initiatives that aim to reduce the negative impact of drug use through the combined efforts of government, non-government and community organisations across three key strategy areas, including:

• prevention and early intervention;

• treatment and support; and

• law, justice and enforcement.

Prevention and early intervention Prevention involves developing ways to support and enable individuals, families and communities to acquire the knowledge, attitudes and skills to adopt healthy lifestyles and behaviours that will contribute to safe environments. Prevention is fundamental to the Putting People First approach. To date, programs have been implemented that help build resilience in young people and communities in order to prevent and/or delay the onset of alcohol and other drug use and reduce the harms associated with their use.

Treatment and support In Western Australia, the government has made available a comprehensive range of early intervention, treatment, support and rehabilitation services for individuals and families affected by alcohol and other drugs. The aim is to deliver evidence- based, culturally appropriate services that are accessible and meet the needs of priority groups such as Aboriginal people, young people and those suffering a mental health co-morbidity. Work is being done to develop partnerships across government and non-government agencies to improve pathways into treatment and linkages between agencies.

1

Law justice and enforcement Under the WADAS, law, justice and enforcement initiatives go beyond the important tasks of drug seizures and disruption of supply and include initiatives that link offenders to treatment through a range of diversion programs. Partnerships between the alcohol and other drugs sector and the criminal justice and correctional services aim to ensure that programs are delivered that reduce drug related offending. A drug law reform agenda, which achieves a balance between penalising the illicit drug trade and alcohol related offending and encourages people into treatment, is a priority under WADAS.

The 2005–2009 Drug and Alcohol Strategy aims to ensure that services and programs make efficient use of resources and are based on evidence of need and effective outcomes. Access to accurate, timely and relevant information is therefore essential. Information concerning alcohol and other drug use, as provided through the National Drug Strategy household Survey (NDSHS) is a key component of this evidence based approach.

Marijuana/cannabis reform in WA. In recent years, changes have occurred in WA relating how police may respond to those who have committed minor cannabis offences. The aim of these reforms is to avoid the harm that may occur if those who commit minor cannabis offences were convicted through diversion to education and support services that provide information relating to the adverse social and health consequences of cannabis use.

The first of these reforms occurred in March 2000, with the introduction of a statewide Cannabis Cautioning Mandatory Education Scheme (CCMES), which enables police to issue a caution to first time offenders who possessed no more than 25 grams of cannabis. Offenders are required to attend a cannabis education session (CES) as an alternative to being charged with an offence. A number of the objects of the CCMES were incorporated into the cannabis infringement notice (CIN) scheme, which commenced on 22 March 2004.

The scheme allows WA police to issue a CIN to an adult in WA who commits any of three types of minor cannabis offences, including:

• the possession of a smoking implement on which there are detectable traces of cannabis;

• the possession of up to 30 grams of cannabis; or

• the non hydroponic cultivation of not more than two cannabis plants.

The scheme permits a person to expiate any of these offences by paying the relevant monetary penalty or by attending a CES. However, if they fail to expiate the amount owing, it will be recovered by the Fines Enforcement Registry.

These reforms have been supported by additional measures, such as education awareness campaigns, controls over retailers of hydroponic equipment, the prohibition of the sale of smoking implements to minors and requirement for paraphernalia retailers to provide specific materials about health consequences from cannabis use.

2

Tobacco Tobacco accounts for over 19,000 avoidable deaths in Australia each year (Miller & Draper 2000). In Western Australia between 1983 and 2001, tobacco was responsible for a total of 29,044 deaths, an average of over 1,500 per year (Unwin et. Al. 2003).

Research shows that half of all smokers will die before their time, and half of these will die in middle age. Diseases caused by tobacco smoking account for around one-third of the leading causes of death in Australia. Smoking has been identified as a major cause of heart disease, stroke, several different forms of cancer, emphysema, impotence, infertility and unhealthy birth-weight and a wide variety of other health problems.

In 2000, Western Australians were hospitalised a total of 12,852 times for conditions caused by smoking. In that year they consumed 73,145 bed-days at an approximate cost of $52 million to the state health system. The tangible and intangible costs of smoking to Australia is slightly over $21.1 billion. The costs of smoking to Western Australia is slightly over $1.5 billion, representing 7.5% of the national costs.

The Western Australian Tobacco Action Plan (WA TAP) 2006-2010 (in development) will provide a framework for tobacco control activities in Western Australia for the next five years. It will outline public health policy on tobacco control for Western Australia and facilitate implementation of key recommendations of the National Tobacco Strategy (NTS) 2004-2009.

In response to the NTS and as part of its role to coordinate State-wide tobacco control policy, the Tobacco Control Branch (TCB) of the Department of Health is currently coordinating the development of the WA TAP 2006-2010 in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders who have an interest in tobacco control issues.

3

Overview—the status of drug use in 2004 Lifetime use of drugs In 2004, more Western Australians reported having tried alcohol than any other drug, with little variation occurring between 2001 and 2004 (Table 1).

WA males were more likely to report having tried tobacco (52%) than WA females (43%) and alcohol (94% compared to 92% respectively). Males were also around 23% more likely than females to report ever having used an illicit drug (48% and 39% respectively).

Table 1: Summary of drugs ever used, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

(Per cent)Tobacco 56.5 52.0 45.2 43.1 50.9 47.5 #

Alcohol 93.3 94.4 90.8 91.6 92.0 93.0Illicits

Marijuana/cannabis 42.3 44.3 35.2 35.0 38.8 39.6Pain-killers/analagesics(a) 6.9 5.4 7.8 4.7 7.4 # 5.0 #

Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(a) 4.5 2.9 3.5 3.1 4.0 3.Steroids(a) 0.6 0.4 * 0.2

0* 0.0 0.4 0.2 *

Barbiturates(a) 1.5 2.2 0.7 0.9 1.1 1.Inhalants 3.8 4.2 3.1 2.2 3.4 3.2Heroin 3.6 2.3 1.3 1.2 2.4 1.Methadone(b) 0.3

5

7* 0.4 * 0.5 0.3 * 0.4 0.3

Other opiates/opioids(a) 2.7 2.2 1.4 1.1 2.1 1.Meth/amphetamine (speed)(a) 13.2 15.1 10.3 9.3 11.8 12.2Cocaine 5.7 5.6 3.9 3.5 4.8 4.6Hallucinogens 12.3 12.5 8.5 6.5 10.4 9.5Ecstasy(c) 10.0 12.3 7.8 7.9 8.9 10.1Ketamine .. 1.5 .. 0.5 .. 1.0GHB .. 0.7 .. 0.1 * .. 0.4Injected drugs 4.4 3.7 2.6 1.9 3.5 2.8Any illicit 46.0 47.9 40.2 39.0 43.1 43.4

None of the above 3.4 4.8 7.6 7.2 5.5 6.0(a) For non-medical purposes.

(b) Non-maintenance.

(c) This category included substances known as 'Designer drugs' prior to 2004.

Males Females Persons

6

4

• In 2004, slightly less than half (48%) of all Western Australians aged 14 years and over had tried tobacco. This represented a significant fall from the 2001 figure (51%).

• More than 9 in 10 persons in WA aged 14 years and over in 2004, reported that they had tried alcohol.

• After marijuana (40%), amphetamines, hallucinogens and ecstasy were the next most common drugs tried in WA with those aged 14 years and over recording prevalence figures in 2004 of 12%, 10% and 10% respectively.

• In 2004, around 52% of WA males aged 14 years and over had tried tobacco. This was a slight, although not significant fall from the figure reported in 2001 (57%).

• Almost 95% of WA males aged 14 years and over in 2004, reported that they had tried alcohol.

• Overall in 2004, around 48% of WA males aged 14 years and over reported that they had tried at least one illicit drug in their lifetime.

• In 2004, 43% of WA females aged 14 years and over reported that they had tried tobacco.

• The majority of WA females aged 14 years and over (92%) in 2004, reported that they had tried alcohol.

• Marijuana was the most reported illicit drug tried by WA females. In 2004, around 39% of WA females aged 14 years and over had tried this drug at some time in their life.

5

Alcohol, tobacco and marijuana were the most common substances to have been tried by Western Australians in 2004. There was a significant fall in the number of persons who had ever used tobacco between 2001 and 2004 (Table 2).

Table 2: Summary of drugs ever used, population estimates by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 433,500 417,000 348,100 350,900 781,800 730,200 #

Alcohol 717,100 757,900 699,400 747,600 1,416,400 1,431,100Illicits

Marijuana/cannabis 322,400 353,200 269,700 283,900 592,400 637,100Pain-killers/analagesics(a) 52,700 42,800 59,500 38,100 112,600 80,900 #

Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(a) 34,400 23,000 26,800 25,100 61,300 48,100Steroids(a) 4,600 * 3,200 * 1,500 * – 5,600 3,200 *Barbiturates(a) 11,400 17,400 5,400 7,300 17,000 24,700Inhalants 28,900 33,400 23,700 17,800 52,500 51,200Heroin 27,400 18,300 10,000 9,700 37,300 28,000Methadone(b) 2,300 * 3,200 * 3,800 * 2,400 * 5,700 5,600Other opiates/opioids(a) 20,800 17,500 10,800 8,900 32,000 26,400Meth/amphetamine (speed)(a) 100,600 120,000 78,800 75,300 179,700 195,300Cocaine 43,400 44,500 29,800 28,300 73,400 72,800Hallucinogens 93,100 99,300 64,500 52,500 157,900 151,800Ecstasy(c) 76,000 97,800 # 59,600 64,000 135,400 161,800Ketamine .. 11,900 .. 4,000 .. 15,900GHB .. 5,600 .. 800 * .. 6,400Injected drugs 33,400 29,600 19,800 15,400 53,100 45,000Any illicit 347,300 375,600 303,400 312,000 650,200 687,600

None of the above 26,000 38,400 58,300 58,700 84,100 97,100(a) For non-medical purposes.

(b) Non-maintenance.



(Number)

• In 2004, approximately 730,000 Western Australians aged 14 years and over reported that they had tried tobacco at least once in their lives. This was significantly lower than the number reported in 2001 (782,000).

• Around 1.4 million Western Australians aged 14 years and over stated that they had tried alcohol.

• Almost 640,000 Western Australians aged 14 years and over in 2004 had tried marijuana, while around 200,000 had used amphetamines, 160,000 had used ecstasy and more than 150,000 had used hallucinogens.

• More males than females have used both licit and illicit drugs.

6

Drugs used in the past 12 months Between 2001 and 2004, the proportion of Western Australians aged 14 years and over reporting recent use (used in the past year) of tobacco fell by around 24%, while those reporting the recent use of alcohol increased by 3%. Over the same period, the proportion of those reporting the recent use of marijuana, pain-killers and hallucinogens all fell significantly (Table 3).

Table 3: Summary of recent drug use(a) proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

(Per cent)Tobacco 25.8 20.3 # 22.8 16.9 # 24.3 18.6 #

Alcohol 86.0 89.5 # 82.5 84.3 84.3 86.9 #

IllicitsMarijuana/cannabis 20.6 17.7 14.5 9.7 # 17.5 13.7 #

Pain-killers/analagesics(b) 3.1 2.6 4.7 2.8 # 3.9 2.7 #

Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(b) 1.7 1.1 1.6 1.5 1.7 1.3Steroids(b) 0.0 0.1 * 0.1 * – 0.1 * –Barbiturates(b) 0.2 * 0.4 * 0.2 * 0.2 * 0.2 0.3Inhalants 0.7 0.6 0.6 0.4 0.6 0.5Heroin 0.4 * 0.3 * 0.2 * – 0.3 0.2 *Methadone(c) 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 0.1 *Other opiates/opioids(b) 0.6 0.3 * 0.6 0.2 * 0.6 0.3Meth/amphetamine (speed)(b) 6.5 5.5 5.0 3.5 5.8 * 4.5Cocaine 1.4 1.5 1.6 0.9 1.5 1.2Hallucinogens 2.4 1.2 1.5 0.1* # 2.0 0.6 #

Ecstasy(d) 4.9 5.2 3.2 3.1 4.0 4.1Ketamine .. 0.1 * .. – .. 0.1 *GHB .. 0.2 * .. – .. 0.1 *Injected drugs 1.6 1.3 1.0 0.5 1.3 0.9Any illicit 24.3 21.1 19.9 13.5 # 22.1 17.3 #

None of the above 9.5 8.5 14.1 13.0 11.8 10.8

(b) For non-medical purposes.

(c) Non-maintenance.

(d) This category included substances known as 'Designer drugs' prior to 2004.

(a) Used in the last 12 months; tobacco 'recent use' includes those who have smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime and have not ceased smoking.


7

• In 2004, slightly less than 19% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over stated that they had smoked tobacco in the past year. This was a significant fall from the figure recorded in 2001 (24%). Around 87% of respondents aged 14 years and over stated that they had consumed alcohol at least once in the previous year. This was a slight increase on the 2001 figure (84%).

• The proportion of those aged 14 years and over who had used marijuana at some time in the previous year fell significantly between 2001 (18%) and 2004 (14%). This represented a fall of 21%.

• The proportion of WA males who had used tobacco in the previous year fell significantly between 2001 and 2004, from 26% to 20% respectively. In 2004, 17% of WA females had smoked tobacco at least once in the previous year.

• A small, yet significant increase in the proportion of WA males who reported that they had consumed alcohol in the previous year was noted between 2001 and 2004 (86% and 90% respectively). Around 84% of WA females aged 14 years and over in 2004 consumed alcohol at least once in the previous year, with little change recorded from the 2001 figure.

• In 2004, marijuana was the most frequently used illicit drug among WA males, with 18% indicating that they had used the drug at some time in the previous year.

• In 2004, 10% of females aged 14 years and over used marijuana in the previous year, making it the most commonly used illicit drug. After marijuana, amphetamines, ecstasy and pain-killers were the most common drugs used at 4%, 3% and 3% respectively.

8

An estimated 1.4 million WA males and females consumed alcohol at least once in 2004. Tobacco recorded the second highest number of users (300,600), followed by marijuana (220,200) and amphetamines (72,200).

Table 4: Summary of recent drug use(a) population estimate by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 198,000 162,800 # 175,600 137,600 # 373,600 300,600 #

Alcohol 661,000 718,600 # 635,500 688,000 1,297,200 1,407,000 #

IllicitsMarijuana/cannabis 157,000 141,000 111,100 78,700 # 267,400 220,200 #

Pain-killers/analagesics(b) 23,600 20,500 35,700 22,600 # 59,300 43,100 #

Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(b) 13,000 8,700 12,200 12,200 26,000 20,800Steroids(b) – 800 * 800 * – 1,500 * –Barbiturates(b) 1,500 * 3,200 * 1,500 * 1,600 * 3,000 4,800Inhalants 5,300 4,800 4,600 3,200 9,100 8,000Heroin 3,000 * 2,400 * 1,500 * – 4,600 3,200 *Methadone(c) 800 * 800 * 800 * 800 * 1,500 1,600 *Other opiates/opioids(b) 4,600 2,400 * 4,600 1,600 * 9,200 4,800Meth/amphetamine (speed)(b) 49,500 43,700 38,200 28,400 88,500 * 72,200Cocaine 10,700 11,900 12,200 7,300 22,900 19,200Hallucinogens 17,300 9,500 10,900 800 # 28,900 9,600 #

Ecstasy(d) 37,200 41,300 24,400 25,100 60,900 65,800Ketamine .. 800 * .. – .. 1,600 *GHB .. 1,600 * .. – .. 1,600 *Injected drugs 12,100 10,400 7,600 4,100 19,700 14,500Any illicit 179,600 164,500 147,400 107,800 # 327,000 273,000 #

None of the above 72,300 67,800 107,500 105,600 179,700 173,900





(a) Used in the last 12 months; tobacco 'recent use' includes those who have smoked 100 cigarettes or more in their lifetime and have not ceased smoking.

(Number)

• More males (162,800) than females (137,600) used tobacco in 2004.

• The number of Western Australians aged 14 years and over who had used tobacco in the previous year fell significantly from 373,600 in 2001, to 300,600 in 2004.

• In 2004, over 1.4 million Western Australians had consumed alcohol in the previous year. This was a significant increase from 2001 (1.3 million).

• Almost twice as many males (141,000), than females (78,700) stated that they had recently used marijuana. The number of recent marijuana users fell significantly between 2001 and 2004.

9

The mean age of initiation (the age at which a drug was first tried) for smoking in WA remained relatively stable between 2001 and 2004. On average, in 2004, males began smoking around one year earlier than females (15 years compared to 16 years of age).

Between 2001 and 2004, the age of initiation for alcohol, or the first use of any illicit drug remained stable (Table 5).

Table 5: Mean age of initiation(a) of lifetime drug use by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 14.7 15.0 15.9 16.2 15.2 15.5Alcohol 15.8 15.8 17.3 17.7 16.6 16.3Illicits

Marijuana/cannabis 18.1 18.7 18.8 18.8 18.4 18.8Pain-killers/analagesics(b) 19.4 22.1 17.9 23.0 18.6 22.9Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(b) 21.8 25.8 20.7 22.8 21.3 22.2Steroids(b) 21.1 24.1 30.1 18.2 22.7 22.0Barbiturates(b) 18.2 19.2 17.4 16.8 18.0 19.1Inhalants 17.3 18.4 17.5 17.3 17.4 18.3Heroin 21.9 21.1 19.9 22.4 21.4 21.7Methadone(c) 20.6 34.3 17.8 28.5 19.1 32.3Meth/amphetamine (speed)(a) 20.0 20.3 20.0 20.0 20.0 20.1Cocaine 22.6 23.2 21.8 23.0 22.3 23.2Hallucinogens 18.4 19.0 18.8 18.6 18.6 18.8Ecstasy(d) 22.7 22.4 21.6 21.0 22.2 22.2Ketamine .. 20.2 .. 22.4 .. 20.6GHB .. 20.5 .. 24.6 .. 21.0Injected drugs 21.6 22.7 20.7 19.5 21.3 21.8Any illicit 18.2 19.0 18.6 19.6 18.4 19.3

(a) Age first tried/used drug.




(e) Persons aged 14 years and over.

Total(e)FemalesMales

(Mean age)

• On average, in 2004, WA males first used tobacco by 15 years of age. This was only slightly higher than the figure reported in 2001 (14.7 years), but more than a year earlier than females (16.2 years).

• In 2004, males were almost two years younger than females when they first tried alcohol at 15.8 and 17.7 years respectively.

• The average age for persons in WA to first try an illicit drug was 19.3 years in 2004, ranging from 18.3 years for inhalants, to 23.2 years for cocaine. (Note: excludes methadone due to low numbers).

10

The proportion of Western Australians aged 14 years and over who were offered or had the opportunity to use tobacco fell between 2001 and 2004, while there was a slight, although not statistically significant increase in the proportion of those offered or had the opportunity to use alcohol. Significant falls were also recorded for marijuana, and LSD/synthetic hallucinogens (Table 6).

Table 6: Offered or had the opportunity to use selected drugs: proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 66.8 59.3 # 52.8 48.4 59.8 53.8 #

Alcohol 93.8 94.9 89.6 91.9 91.7 93.4Illicits

Marijuana/cannabis 35.0 29.9 # 28.8 21.6 # 31.9 25.7 #

Pain-killers/analagesics(a) 44.0 43.1 45.4 40.8 # 44.7 42.0Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(a) 8.9 10.8 9.5 8.3 9.2 9.5Steroids(a) 1.1 1.5 0.6 0.6 0.9 1.0Barbiturates(a) 1.9 1.7 1.0 1.0 1.5 1.3Inhalants 5.3 5.8 3.6 3.3 4.5 4.5Heroin 2.1 1.7 1.1 0.8 1.6 1.3Meth/amphetamine (speed)(a) 13.7 12.7 10.1 8.1 11.9 10.4Cocaine 4.0 3.5 3.1 2.9 3.5 3.2Naturally occuring hallucinogens 4.4 3.9 2.4 2.2 3.4 3.1LSD/synthetic hallucinogens 6.7 4.0 # 4.1 2.2 # 5.4 3.1 #

Ecstasy(b) 14.1 11.9 9.1 7.9 11.6 9.9Ketamine .. 1.4 .. 0.8 .. 1.1GHB .. 1.9 .. 0.5 .. 1.2Kava 0.9 * 0.5 0.8 0.7 0.8 0.6

(a) For non-medical purposes.

(b) This category included substances known as 'Designer drugs' prior to 2004.

Males Females Total

(Per cent)

• In 2004, around 54% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over were offered or had the opportunity to use tobacco. This represented a fall of 10% from the 2001 figure (60%).

• A higher proportion of males (59%) than females (48%) reported that they were offered or had the opportunity to use tobacco in 2004.

• Around 95% of males and 92% of females were offered or had the opportunity to use alcohol in 2004.

• Slightly more than four in every ten persons aged 14 years and over (42%) in 2004, stated that they were offered or had the opportunity to use pain-killers (for non-medical purposes). This was the highest recorded prevalence of any illicit drug in 2004.

• After pain-killers, the most common illicit drugs reported were marijuana (26%), amphetamines (10%) and tranquillisers/sleeping pills (10%).

11

Western Australians aged 20–29 years were more likely to be offered or have had the opportunity to use tobacco in 2004 than any other age group.

Around nine in every ten Western Australians aged 14 years or older in 2004 were offered or had the opportunity to use alcohol, with the highest proportion among those aged 30–39 years (Table 7).

For the majority of illicit drugs, those aged 20–29 years were the most likely to report being offered or having had the opportunity to use each drug.

Table 7: Offered or had the opportunity to use selected drugs, proportion of the population by age, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 73.3 54.3 # 80.5 73.8 # 68.3 66.2 46.1 42.6Alcohol 90.9 88.4 97.0 94.7 94.7 96.6 88.9 92.9 #

IllicitsMarijuana/cannabis 63.1 45.8 # 59.7 55.6 37.4 30.7 12.7 9.4 #

Pain-killers/analagesics(a) 42.2 34.3 48.4 42.6 51.2 48.0 41.5 41.1Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(a) 12.8 7.0 12.9 13.0 7.6 8.6 7.7 9.1Steroids(a) 1.2 * 1.2 * 1.7 1.9 1.5 0.7 * 0.2 * 0.8Barbiturates(a) 3.6 2.8 * 2.6 3.1 2.0 1.2 * 0.4 * 0.5Inhalants 10.8 11.7 9.4 8.4 3.0 3.1 2.0 2.3Heroin 3.0 2.8 * 3.7 2.8 2.1 0.2* # 0.4 0.8Meth/amphetamine (speed)(a) 27.7 20.0 31.4 30.8 11.0 10.9 1.8 1.2Cocaine 6.5 6.4 9.7 9.1 4.1 3.5 0.6 0.4 *Naturally occuring hallucinogens 8.6 10.4 8.8 8.0 3.4 1.7 0.4 * 0.3 *LSD/synthetic hallucinogens 12.8 8.0 16.5 9.4 # 3.3 2.2 0.7 0.2 *Ecstasy(b) 24.9 17.7 32.2 29.9 10.1 10.2 1.9 1.2Ketamine .. 0.1 * .. 3.5 .. 1.0 * .. 0.5GHB .. 3.6 * .. 3.3 .. 0.4 * .. 0.3 *Kava 1.1 * 0.1 * 1.0 1.9 0.8 * 0.5 * 0.8 0.3 *

(a) For non-medical purposes.

(b) This category included substances known as 'Designer drugs' prior to 2004.

Age group14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• In 2004, more than seven in every ten (74%) Western Australians aged 20–29 years were offered or had the opportunity to use tobacco, compared to four in every ten (43%) persons aged 40 years and over. However, among those aged 20–29 years, a significant fall of 8% was recorded between 2001 and 2004.

• Of the age groups presented, only those aged 40 years and over recorded a significant change in their opportunity to use alcohol; increasing from 89% in 2001, to 93% in 2004.

• Pain-killers/analgesics were the most commonly reported illicit drug among all age groups except for those aged 20–29 years who were more likely to report marijuana. For the majority of illicit drugs, those aged 20–29 years were more likely to report being offered or having had the opportunity to use each drug. The only exceptions were inhalants and naturally occurring hallucinogens, with a higher proportion of those aged 14–19 years reporting that they were offered of had the opportunity to use these drugs.

12

Drugs thought to be associated with a drug problem Respondents were asked to nominate the drug they thought of when people talked about a drug ‘problem’. While Western Australians primarily associated heroin or marijuana as problem drugs, there were some slight differences in degree recorded in 2001 and 2004 (Table 8).

Table 8: Proportion of the population aged 14 years and over who associate specific drugs with a drug “problem’, by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 2.1 * 4.8 * 2.8 * 2.0 * 2.5 * 3.4 *Alcohol 7.7 10.4 8.1 8.6 7.9 9.5Illicits

Marijuana/cannabis 24.2 26.1 22.4 30.2 23.3 28.2Pain-killers/analagesics(b) 0.2 * 0.6 * 0.7 * 0.4 * 0.4 * 0.5 *Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(b) 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.3 * 0.9 * 0.2 * 0.5 *Steroids(b) 0.0 0.2 * 0.0 0.1 * 0.0 0.1 *Barbiturates(b) 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.0 0.2 * 0.1 * 0.2 *Inhalants 0.4 * 0.8 * 0.4 * 0.7 * 0.4 * 0.7 *Heroin 50.9 37.2 # 48.9 36.4 49.9 36.8 #

Meth/amphetamine (speed)(b) 8.5 10.4 7.6 10.8 # 8.0 10.6Cocaine 3.0 * 6.0 * 5.0 * 6.4 4.0 * 6.2Naturally occurring hallucinogens 0.0 0.1 * 0.2 * 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 *LSD/synthetic hallucinogens 0.4 * 0.3 * 0.5 * 0.2 * 0.5 * 0.3 *Ecstasy(c) 1.3 * 1.8 * 2.1 * 2.1 * 1.7 * 1.9 *Ketamine .. – .. – .. –GHB .. – .. – .. –Kava .. – .. – .. –Tea/coffee/caffeine 0.1 * 0.5 * 0.4 * 0.1 * 0.2 * 0.3 *Drugs other than listed 0.3 * – 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.2 * 0.0None/can't think of any 0.7 * 0.5 * 0.4 * 0.6 * 0.6 * 0.6 *

(a) Respondents were asked to nominate two drugs.



(Per cent)

Males Females Total

• In 2004, almost four in every ten Western Australians aged 14 years and over (37%) nominated heroin as the drug they first thought of when people talked about a drug ‘problem’. This represented a significant decrease from the 2001 figure, when around 50% of those asked nominated heroin. This was similar for both males and females.

• Marijuana was the second most common drug cited; nominated by slightly less than one in three persons (28%) in 2004. This was a slight, although not statistically significant increase on the 2001 figure (23%). In 2004, females were more likely to nominate marijuana than males (26% and 30% respectively).

• Heroin, marijuana and amphetamines were the only drugs to be nominated by more than 10% of those surveyed.

13

Acceptability of drug use Among Western Australians aged 14 years and over, tobacco, alcohol and marijuana were most accepted for regular use. Of these, no significant changes were reported for tobacco or alcohol between 2001 and 2004. However, the proportion of those who considered the regular use of marijuana acceptable declined between 2001 and 2004 (Table 9).

Table 9: Acceptability of regular drug use by adults: proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 41.2 40.2 36.0 33.6 38.6 36.9Alcohol 82.1 84.6 70.6 73.5 76.4 79.0Illicits

Marijuana/cannabis 32.2 28.1 26.5 19.7 # 29.4 23.8 #

Pain-killers/analagesics(b) 6.5 8.6 6.1 5.7 6.3 7.1Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(b) 4.1 5.6 3.7 3.4 3.9 4.5Steroids(b) 3.1 3.3 1.1 1.0 2.1 2.1Barbiturates(b) 1.8 2.2 0.8 0.8 1.3 1.5Inhalants 0.9 * 1.4 0.5 * 0.8 0.7 1.1Heroin 2.1 1.3 0.8 0.9 1.5 1.1Methadone(b) 2.1 1.8 1.0 0.8 1.5 1.3Meth/amphetamine (speed)(b) 6.0 5.2 3.2 2.7 4.6 3.9Cocaine 3.8 2.5 2.4 2.0 3.1 2.2Hallucinogens 6.7 5.3 3.8 1.8 # 5.2 3.5 #

Ecstasy(c) 7.0 7.1 4.1 3.3 5.5 5.1Ketamine .. 1.2 .. 0.9 .. 1.1GHB .. 1.6 .. 1.1 .. 1.4




Males Females Total

(Per cent)

• In 2004, the regular use of alcohol was accepted by almost eight in every ten Western Australians aged 14 years and over (79%). This was similar to the figure reported in 2001 (76%). Males were more likely than females to consider the regular use of alcohol acceptable (85% and 74% respectively).

• Slightly less than four in every ten Western Australians (37%) found the regular use of tobacco acceptable in 2004. This was similar to the figure reported in 2001 (39%). In 2004, males (40%) were more likely to find the regular use of tobacco acceptable than females (34%).

• Marijuana was the most accepted illicit drug in 2004, with around 24% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over indicating that they considered its regular use acceptable.

14

For each of the drugs presented, WA males aged 40 years and over were less likely than their younger counterparts to consider regular drug use acceptable. However, in 2004 and 2001, tobacco, alcohol and marijuana were the most common drugs cited as acceptable for regular use by adults. Males aged 14–19 years were the most likely to consider the regular use of alcohol acceptable, while those aged 20–29 years were the most likely to consider the regular use of tobacco and marijuana acceptable (Table 10).

Table 10: Acceptability of regular drug use by adults, WA males by age group, 2001 and 2004

Drug 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 49.8 44.9 55.4 58.5 45.6 44.9 32.7 31.2Alcohol 82.9 90.8 87.4 87.4 85.9 88.5 78.8 80.9Illicits

Marijuana/cannabis 43.9 26.1 47.4 49.8 41.4 40.4 21.0 16.4Pain-killers/analagesics(b) 8.4 13.8 8.9 9.3 6.6 10.9 5.1 6.4Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(b) 5.1 9.0 * 6.7 4.9 3.3 7.1 3.2 4.6Steroids(b) 3.9 8.2 * 5.9 6.8 2.1 * 3.2 * 2.3 1.2Barbiturates(b) 1.4 * 4.8 * 4.2 4.2 * 2.1 * 3.2 * 1.0 * 0.6 *Inhalants 0.4 * 7.6* # 1.8 * 1.6 * 0.8 * 0.7 * 0.7 * 0.3 *Heroin 3.7 3.1 * 3.5 1.7 * 2.9 2.3 * 1.0 * 0.3 *Methadone(b) 2.2 * 4.8 * 4.1 3.0 * 2.3 * 1.5 * 1.2 0.8 *Meth/amphetamine (speed)(b) 12.4 10.5 13.8 12.0 5.4 6.4 2.0 1.3Cocaine 5.9 4.8 * 8.5 6.2 4.5 3.4 1.4 * 0.4 *Hallucinogens 8.9 12.2 13.1 13.0 8.0 5.2 3.4 1.2 #

Ecstasy(c) 10.6 14.4 18.5 18.2 7.0 8.5 2.1 1.2Ketamine .. 4.8 * .. 0.5 * .. 1.8 * .. 0.5 *GHB .. 4.8 * .. 2.4 * .. 2.6 * .. 0.3 *




Age group14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• In 2004, around 31% of WA males aged 40 years and over considered the regular use of tobacco acceptable. By comparison, more than half (59%) of those aged 20–29 years considered the regular use of tobacco acceptable.

• Males aged 14–19 years in 2004, were the most likely to consider the regular use of alcohol acceptable (91%), with those aged 40 years and over the least likely (81%). There were no significant changes in the proportion of males who considered the regular use of alcohol acceptable between 2001 and 2004. However, there was a slight increase recorded among those aged 14–19 years, from 83% to 91%.

• In 2004, males aged 20–29 years were the most likely age group to consider the regular use of marijuana acceptable, while those aged 40 years and over were the least likely (50% and 16% respectively).

• Younger age groups (those aged 14–19 and 20–29 years) were also more likely to consider the regular use of amphetamines (11% and 12% respectively), hallucinogens (12% and 13% respectively) and ecstasy (14% and 18% respectively) acceptable than their older counterparts. Among those aged 40 years and over, around 1% of males considered the regular use of these drugs acceptable.

15

Tobacco, alcohol and marijuana were the drugs most cited by WA females as acceptable for regular use. Between 2001 and 2004, there was a significant increase in the proportion of females aged 40 years and over who considered the regular use of alcohol acceptable, while there was a significant decrease in the proportion of those aged 30–39 years who felt that the regular use of marijuana was acceptable (Table 11).

Table 11: Acceptability of regular drug use by adults: WA females by age group, 2001 and 2004

Drug 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 46.0 34.4 48.6 49.5 46.5 41.2 24.6 25.8Alcohol 83.2 81.8 81.6 75.5 73.9 78.1 62.0 69.6 #

IllicitsMarijuana/cannabis 41.1 27.0 40.4 32.0 37.1 27.2# 13.3 11.6Pain-killers/analagesics(b) 12.6 7.2 8.3 6.1 6.0 5.2 3.8 5.4Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(b) 7.3 3.6 * 4.4 4.4 4.0 3.3 2.6 3.0Steroids(b) 2.1 * – 1.5 * 2.4 * 1.2 * 1.0 * 0.6 * 0.7 *Barbiturates(b) 2.1 * – 1.2 * 1.9 * 1.2 * 1.0 * 0.1 * 0.5 *Inhalants 0.9 * 1.2 * 0.4 * 2.4 * 0.9 * 0.8 * 0.2 * 0.2 *Heroin 0.4 * 1.0 * 1.3 * 2.1 * 0.8 * 1.6 * 0.7 * 0.3 *Methadone(b) 2.0 * 0.1 * 1.2 * 2.1 * 0.8 * 1.0 * 0.7 * 0.4 *Meth/amphetamine (speed)(b) 8.3 4.5 * 7.6 7.3 3.3 3.7 0.3 * 0.5 *Cocaine 3.6 3.2 * 6.2 5.4 2.6 2.8 0.6 * 0.4 *Hallucinogens 7.0 2.6 * 7.5 3.8 3.8 3.5 1.6 0.4 *Ecstasy(c) 7.1 7.8 10.1 7.5 3.2 4.3 1.5 0.6 *Ketamine .. 1.3 .. 2.8 .. 0.8 * .. 0.3 *GHB .. 2.3 * .. 2.5 * .. 1.3 * .. 0.4




Age group

14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

*

• In 2004, around one in every four (26%) WA females aged 40 years and over considered the regular use of tobacco acceptable. This was similar to the figure reported in 2001. By comparison, one in every two (50%) females aged 20–29 years considered the regular use of tobacco acceptable.

• Females aged 14–19 years were the most likely to state that the regular use of alcohol was acceptable (82%). This was around 18% higher than the proportion of females aged 40 years and over who felt that the regular use of alcohol was acceptable (70%).

• The proportion of WA females who considered the regular use of marijuana acceptable varied with age, ranging from 32% of those aged 20–29 years, to 12% among those aged 40 years and over.

16

There was little change in the proportion of Western Australians who considered the regular use of tobacco or alcohol acceptable between 2001 and 2004. Of the illicit drugs, there was a significant fall in the proportion of those aged 40 years and over who felt that the regular use of hallucinogens was acceptable, while there was a significant decrease among those aged 14–19 years who considered the regular use of marijuana and inhalants acceptable (Table 12).

Table 12: Acceptability of regular drug use by adults: persons aged 14 years and over by age group, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Tobacco 48.0 39.7 52.0 54.0 46.1 43.1 28.7 28.4Alcohol 83.1 86.3 84.4 81.5 79.3 83.4 70.8 75.1Illicits

Marijuana/cannabis 42.6 26.6 # 43.9 41.0 39.0 33.9 17.3 13.9Pain-killers/analagesics(b) 10.4 10.4 8.6 7.7 6.3 8.1 4.5 5.9Tranquillisers/sleeping pills(b) 6.1 6.2 5.5 4.7 3.7 5.2 2.9 3.8Steroids(b) 3.0 4.0 3.7 4.6 1.6 2.1 1.5 0.9Barbiturates(b) 1.7 2.3 * 2.7 3.0 1.6 2.1 0.6 0.5Inhalants 0.7 * 4.3 # 1.1 2.0 0.9 * 0.7 * 0.5 * 0.3 *Heroin 2.2 2.0 * 2.3 1.9 1.8 2.0 0.9 0.3 *Methadone(b) 2.1 2.4 * 2.6 2.5 1.5 1.2 * 1.0 0.6Meth/amphetamine (speed)(b) 10.5 7.4 10.6 9.6 4.2 5.0 1.2 0.9Cocaine 4.8 4.0 7.3 5.8 3.5 3.1 1.0 0.4 *Hallucinogens 8.0 7.3 10.3 8.4 5.7 4.3 2.5 0.8 #

Ecstasy(c) 9.0 11.0 14.3 12.9 4.9 6.4 1.8 0.9Ketamine .. 3.0 * .. 1.7 * .. 1.3 * .. 0.4 *GHB .. 3.5 * .. 2.5 .. 1.9 .. 0.3 *




Age group14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• In 2004, more than half (54%) of all WA adults aged 20–29 years considered it acceptable to use tobacco on a regular basis. This was 90% higher than among those aged 40 years and over (28%).

• There was little difference in the proportion of those aged 14 years and over who felt that the regular use of alcohol was acceptable, ranging from 75% among those aged 40 years and over, to 86% for those aged 14–19 years. No significant changes were recorded between 2001 and 2004.

• Among all age groups, marijuana was the most accepted illicit drug in 2004. However, the acceptability of marijuana use was highly related to age, with those aged 20–29 years considerably more likely to consider its regular use acceptable than those aged 40 years and over (41% and 14% respectively).

• There was a significant reduction in the proportion of those aged 14–19 years who stated that the regular use of marijuana was acceptable between 2001 and 2004, with prevalence figures falling from 43% to 27% over this period.

• Among persons aged 14–19 years, pain-killers and ecstasy were the only illicit drugs apart from marijuana to record prevalence figures greater than 10% in 2004. For persons aged 20–29 years, ecstasy was the only illicit drug apart from marijuana with more than 10% citing its regular use as acceptable.

17

In 2004, younger Western Australians aged 18–34 years were more likely than those aged 18 years and over to support the personal use of marijuana being made legal. However, there were significant falls in support recorded by each age group between 2001 and 2004 (Table 13).

There was only limited support for the personal use of heroin, amphetamines or cocaine being made legal in 2004. In addition, trends between 2001 and 2004 saw support for the legalisation of these drugs fall.

Table 13: Support for the personal use of selected drugs being made legal, persons aged 14 years and over by sex and age group, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug Males Females 18+ 18–34 Total 18+ 18–34 18+ 18–34

2001Marijuana 36.5 32.9 34.8 49.2 34.7 36.9 52.1 32.7 46.1Heroin 6.6 6.1 6.6 7.6 6.4 6.9 9.1 6.3 6.1Amphetamines 7.1 5.4 6.1 9.1 6.3 7.0 12.1 5.1 6.0Cocaine 6.5 4.9 5.7 7.3 5.7 6.8 9.8 4.7 4.6

2004Marijuana 30.5 # 25.6 # 28.3 # 37.9 # 28.0 # 31.0 42.6 # 25.5 # 33.1 #

Heroin 5.3 4.1 # 4.8 # 3.4 # 4.7 # 5.3 4.0 # 4.2 2.9 #

Amphetamines 5.6 4.0 4.9 6.1 4.8 # 5.7 8.6 4.0 3.6 #

Cocaine 4.9 4.0 4.4 4.7 4.4 4.9 5.5 # 3.9 3.9

(Per cent)

Sex Age group Males Females

• Among Western Australians aged 14 years and over, support for the legalisation of marijuana for personal use fell significantly between 2001 and 2004, from 35% to 28% respectively. These falls were evident regardless of sex or age, with falls of 16% and 22% recorded by males and females aged 14 years and over respectively and 23% among persons aged 18–34 years.

• Little support for the legalisation of the personal use of heroin, amphetamines or cocaine was recorded in 2004. Furthermore, support for each of these drugs fell between 2001 and 2004. Between 5% and 6% of males aged 14 years and over supported the personal use of heroin, amphetamines or cocaine being made legal. Support for the legalisation of these drugs was slightly lower among females (4%).

18

Nominal distribution of drugs budget Respondents were asked how they would distribute $100 to be spent on education, law enforcement and treatment for each of a selected list of drugs. Between 2001 and 2004, little change was recorded in the preferred distribution of funds for any of the listed drugs (Table 14).

Table 14: Preferred distribution of a hypothetical $100 for reducing the use of selected drugs, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004.

Reduction method 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Education 41.60 40.15 47.70 44.69 44.50 42.45 34.90 33.92 31.20 30.80Treatment 29.60 30.70 29.00 30.44 24.70 26.52 24.00 24.67 24.50 24.62Law enforcement 28.80 29.15 23.00 24.87 30.80 31.02 41.10 41.41 44.30 44.58Note: 2001 figures have been rounded to nearest 10 cents.

($)

Alcohol Tobacco Marijuana Amphetamines Heroin/cocaine

• In 2004, for alcohol ($40.15), tobacco ($44.69) and marijuana ($42.45), the amount nominated to be spent on education exceeded the amounts for both treatment and law enforcement.

• For heroin/cocaine ($44.58) and amphetamines ($41.41), law enforcement attracted the largest component of the $100 budget.

Support for increased penalties for the sale or supply of illicit drugs Respondents were asked to consider to what extent they would support or oppose increased penalties for the sale or supply of a selected group of drugs.

Apart from a slight increase in the proportion of females supporting increased penalties for the sale or supply of marijuana between 2001 and 2004, there was little change in the proportion of those supporting increasing penalties.

Table 15: Support(a) for increased penalties for the sale or supply of selected illicit drugs, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Marijuana 52.7 51.9 56.3 59.9 54.5 56Heroin 87.6 86.8 89.2 88.3 88.4 87.6Amphetamines 84.1 83.2 86.6 86.1 85.4 84Cocaine 86.2 85.1 87.6 87.1 86.9 86(a) Support or strongly support.

(Per cent)

Males Females Total

.0

.7

.1

• In 2004, slightly over half (56%) of all Western Australians aged 14 years and over supported the introduction of increased penalties for the sale or supply of marijuana. Support was higher among females (60%) than males (52%).

• Increased penalties for the sale or supply of heroin, amphetamines or cocaine was supported by almost nine in every ten persons aged 14 years and over (88%, 85% and 86% respectively).

19

Population groups Western Australian health areas Among Western Australians, those resident within the Kimberley Region were the most likely to report having tried an illicit drug at least once in their lives. Those reporting the second and third highest prevalence figures were resident in the Goldfields and Pilbara-Gascoyne Health Areas respectively (Table 16).

Table 16: Summary of drugs ever used, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by WA Area Health Services(a), 2004

Health area Marijuana Amphetamines Ecstasy Any illicit

Goldfields-SE Coastal 50.9 16.3 13.1 53.2Great Southern 38.9 7.4 5.1 * 40.6Kimberley 83.0 31.4 21.2 83.9Midwest-Murchison 34.5 11.6 10.7 41.5North Metropolitan 38.5 12.3 11.4 43.0Pilbara-Gascoyne 47.8 13.0 10.1 * 49.6South Metropolitan 39.3 12.4 9.4 42.4South West 39.8 10.5 6.4 43.5Wheatbelt 34.2 7.6 * 5.1 * 38.2Western Australia 39.6 12.2 10.1 43.4(a) See methods for map of health areas.

Drug

(Per cent)

• Of the nine regions in Western Australia, residents of the Kimberley were the most likely to report having tried an illicit drug at some time in their lives (84%), followed by residents of the Goldfields (53%) and the Pilbara-Gascoyne (50%).

• More than twice as many of those from the Kimberley reported having used marijuana (83%) than the State average (40%).

• Residents of the Kimberley (31%) and Goldfields (16%) were the most likely to have tried amphetamines, while those from the Great Southern region were the least likely (7%).

20

Residents of the Kimberley and Goldfields health areas were the most likely to have recently used an illicit drug, while those from the South West and Wheatbelt were the least likely (Table 17).

Table 17: Summary of illicit drugs recently used(a), proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by WA Area Health Areas(b), 2004

Health area Marijuana Amphetamines Ecstasy Any illicit

Goldfields-SE Coastal 22.5 5.3 * 7.7 * 25.3Great Southern 11.3 2.4 * 0.5 * 11.5Kimberley 30.2 7.8 3.8 * 35.9Midwest-Murchison 14.0 3.6 * 4.1 18.4North Metropolitan 14.4 5.2 4.9 18.3Pilbara-Gascoyne 14.9 2.5 * – 16.7South Metropolitan 12.4 4.0 4.1 16.1South West 13.1 5.7 3.2 14.8Wheatbelt 4.7 * – – 11.4Western Australia 13.7 4.5 4.1 17.3(a) Used in the previous year.

(B) See methods for map of health areas.

Drug

(Per cent)

• In 2004, around one in three (36%) males and females aged 14 years and over from the Kimberley region, one in four (25%) from the Goldfields region indicated that they had used an illicit drug in the previous year. This was 105% and 46% higher than the WA State figure (17%).

• Almost one in three (30%) residents of the Kimberley region aged 14 years and over and more than one in five (23%) of those from the Goldfields region had used marijuana in the previous year.

• The use of amphetamines and ecstasy was relatively similar across each Health Area in 2004.

21

Area based socioeconomic disadvantage Areas of WA were equally distributed into quintiles based on a series of specifically defined socioeconomic indicators (see methods for further details), with these areas ordered from least to most disadvantaged. Daily smoking was significantly higher among persons from the most disadvantaged areas. However, there was little difference in the proportion of ex-smokers and never smokers across each of the five quintiles (Table 18).

Table 18: Tobacco smoking status by IRSD(a), persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2004 IRSD Daily Weekly Less than weekly Ex-smoker(b) Never smoked(c)

(Per cent)Least disadvantaged 11.5 12.5 * 26.3 * 18.3 22.9Quintile 2 15.4 41.0 # 14.5 * 20.8 20.1Quintile 3 19.8 # 20.5 * 16.6 * 20.6 20.3Quintile 4 24.0 # 6.4 * 30.5 * 20.5 18.7 #

Most disadvantaged 29.4 # 19.6 * 12.2 * 19.8 18.1 #

(a) Index of Relative Social Disadvantage. (b) Smoked at least 100 cigarettes (or equivalent) in lifetime, but reported no longer smoking. (c) Never smoked more than 100 cigarettes or equivalent amount of tobacco.

• In 2004, daily smoking was around two and a half times higher (29%) in areas of WA defined as most disadvantaged, than areas defined as least disadvantaged (12%).

• The proportion of ex-smokers was similar across each of the five quintiles.

• The proportion of those from the most disadvantaged areas of the State who had never smoked was slightly lower than those from the least disadvantaged areas (18% and 23% respectively).

22

There was little difference in the proportion of daily drinkers across each quintile in 2004, while the proportion of weekly drinkers was significantly lower among those from the most disadvantaged quintile, than those from the least disadvantaged quintile (Table 19).

Table 19: Alcohol drinking status by IRSD(a), persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2004 IRSD Daily Weekly Less than weekly Ex-drinker(b) Never a full glass

(Per cent)Least disadvantaged 18.8 22.6 17.4 11.9 * 19.2Quintile 2 17.2 21.2 20.0 14.6 * 19.4Quintile 3 24.4 20.4 20.2 14.9 * 18.9Quintile 4 21.6 17.3 # 20.1 35.7 # 20.7Most disadvantaged 18.0 18.6 # 22.3 # 22.9 # 21.8(a) Index of Relative Social Disadvantage. (b) Consumed a full serve of alcohol, but not in the past year.

• In 2004, there was no significant difference in the proportion of daily drinkers across each quintile.

• Around 19% of those from the most disadvantaged areas in the state were classified as weekly drinkers. This was significantly lower than those from the least disadvantaged areas (23%).

• Around one in five persons aged 14 years and over had never consumed a full glass of alcohol. This was relatively consistent across each quintile.

In 2004, there was little difference in the proportion of those who had tried marijuana or ecstasy based on socioeconomic disadvantage (Table 20). However, the proportion of those from areas of the State defined as most disadvantaged who had used amphetamines was significantly higher than those from the least disadvantaged areas.

Table 20: Summary of drugs ever used, proportion of the population by IRSD(a), WA, 2004

DrugLeast

disadvantaged Quintile 2 Quintile 3 Quintile 4Most

disadvantaged

(Per cent)Marijuana 35.9 39.1 39.6 38.5 38.5Amphetamines 8.8 12.8 12.9 10.5 13.8 #

Ecstasy 7.9 10.9 11.3 7.8 10.6Any illicit 39.4 43.9 42.1 42.1 42.9(a) Index of Relative Social Disadvantage.

• In 2004, around 36% of persons aged 14 years and over resident in areas of the State defined as least disadvantaged had tried marijuana. This was similar to the proportion of those from the most disadvantaged areas (39%).

• The proportion of those from the most disadvantaged areas of the State who had tried amphetamines was significantly higher than among those from the least disadvantaged areas (14% and 9% respectively).

• The proportion of those who had tried ecstasy was higher in the most disadvantaged areas (11%) than the least disadvantaged areas (8%); however this was not statistically significant.

23

There were no statistically significant differences recorded across IRSD quintiles in 2004 for measures of marijuana, amphetamines or ecstasy. However, the proportion of Western Australians residents defined as most disadvantage who had used an illicit drug in the past year was significantly higher than among their counterparts from the least disadvantaged areas (Table 21).

Table 21: Summary of recent drug use(a) proportion of the population by IRSD(b), WA, 2001 and 2004

DrugLeast

disadvantaged Quintile 2 Quintile 3 Quintile 4Most

disadvantaged

(Per cent)Marijuana 11.8 16.1 11.2 11.3 15.8Amphetamines 4.3 5.3 3.4 3.5 5.3Ecstasy 4.0 4.5 3.1 3.5 4.9Any illicit 13.7 20.8 # 14.0 15.1 20.2 #

(a) Used in the last 12 months.(b) Index of Relative Social Disadvantage.

• There was no significant difference in the proportion of persons aged 14 years and over who had used marijuana in the past year based on area of social disadvantage. In 2004, around 12% of those from the least disadvantaged areas and 16% from the most disadvantaged areas had used marijuana in the previous year.

• Around 4% of those from the least disadvantaged areas and 5% from the most disadvantage areas had used amphetamines in the previous year.

• The proportion of those from the most disadvantaged areas of the State who had used an illicit drug was significantly higher than among those from the least disadvantaged areas (20% and 14% respectively).

24

Consumption patterns Tobacco The proportion of Western Australians aged 14 years and over smoking on a daily basis fell significantly between 2001 and 2004, falling below 20% for the first time (Table 22).

Table 22: Tobacco smoking status, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Smoking status 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Daily 20.7 17.0 19.5 14.0 # 20.1 15.5 #

Weekly 2.3 1.9 1.6 1.7 2.0 1Less than weekly 2.9 1.4 1.7 1.2 2.3 1.3

.8#

Ex-smoker(a) 30.7 31.7 22.4 26.2 # 26.5 28.9Never smoked(b) 43.5 48.0 54.8 56.9 49.1 52.5(a) Smoked at least 100 cigarettes (or equivalent) in lifetime, but reported no longer smoking. (b) Never smoked more than 100 cigarettes or equivalent amount of tobacco.

(Per cent)


• The proportion or Western Australians aged 14 years and over smoking on a daily basis fell by around 23% between 2001 and 2004, from 20% to 16% respectively.

• This equated to approximately 250,200 daily smokers in 2004. This represented 58,800 fewer daily smokers compared to 2001.

• The proportion of males smoking daily fell by 18% (note: this figure was not statistically significant) between 2001 and 2004, while the proportion of females smoking daily fell significantly from 20% to 14% over the same period. This represented a fall of slightly over 28%.

• In 2004, almost half (48%) of all males aged 14 years and over stated that they had never smoked tobacco, while around six in every ten (57%) females had never smoked tobacco.

• Between 2001 and 2004, the proportion of females indicating that they were ex-smokers increased significantly from 22% to 26% respectively.

25

In 2004, males were more likely than females to report smoking tobacco on a daily basis (Table 23).

A general fall in smoking prevalence was recorded across most age groups by both males and females, with relatively large declines noted among those in the younger age groups, 14–19 years and 20–29 years.

Table 23: Tobacco smoking status by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Smoking status 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Daily 13.7 5.8 * 28.1 22.3 24.4 21.5 25.1 17.5 16.4 20.7 12.9 10.5 20.7 17.0Weekly 3.5 1.6 * 2.4 4.0 3.9 2.8 1.2* 1.8 * 2.2 0.6 * 1.1* 0.3 * 2.3 1.9Less than weekly 0.9 * – 5.5 2.5 * 3.5 2.5 * 3.8 2.3 * 1.5 0.7 * 0.9 * – 2.9 1.4Ex-smoker(a) 2.3 3.5 * 15.6 12.6 23.4 31.1 34.0 35.7 49.2 40.4 53.9 55.9 30.7 31.7Never smoked(b) 79.6 89.0 48.4 58.6 44.9 42.2 35.9 42.7 30.6 37.6 31.2 33.3 43.5 48.0

Daily 17.2 11.3 26.1 15.7 # 25.1 14.9 # 21.9 19.4 15.0 13.1 9.7 8.8 19.5 14.0 #

Weekly 2.6 * 0.8 * 2.5 3.9 3.3 2.7 0.0 0.5 * 1.4 1.4 * 0.0 0.5 * 1.6 1.7Less than weekly 1.5 * – 4.2 2.6 1.7 2.1 1.2 * 1.7 * 1.2 0.7 * 0.5 * – 1.7 1.2Ex-smoker(a) 3.4 – 11.5 19.8 25.5 32.9 31.9 33.0 29.4 26.7 26.7 32.3 22.4 26.2 #

Never smoked(b) 75.3 87.9 55.8 57.9 44.5 47.4 45.0 45.4 52.9 58.0 63.2 58.4 54.8 56.9

Daily 15.3 8.5 # 27.1 19.1 # 24.7 18.2 23.6 18.5 15.8 16.9 11.2 9.6 20.1 15.5 #

Weekly 3.1 1.2 2.5 * 4.0 3.6 2.8 0.6* 1.2 1.8 1.0 * 0.5 * 0.4 * 2.0 1.8Less than weekly 1.2 * – 4.8 2.5 2.5 2.3 2.6 2.0 1.4 0.7 * 0.7 * – 2.3 1.3 #

Ex-smoker(a) 2.8 1.8 13.5 * 16.2 24.5 32.0 # 33.1 34.3 39.5 33.6 39.4 43.4 26.5 28.9Never smoked(b) 77.6 88.5 52.1 58.3 44.7 44.8 40.0 44.0 41.5 47.7 48.2 46.6 49.1 52.5(a) Smoked at least 100 cigarettes (or equivalent) in lifetime, but reported no longer smoking. (b) Never smoked more than 100 cigarettes or equivalent amount of tobacco.

(Per cent)

Males

Females

Persons

Age group14–19 20–29 30–39 40–49 50–59 60+ Total

• Almost one in five persons aged 20–29 years (19%), 30–39 years (18%) and 40–49 years (19%) smoked tobacco on a daily basis in 2004.

• For males and females aged 60 years and over, around one in ten (10%) smoked on a daily basis.

• Between 2001 and 2004, the proportion of Western Australians aged 14–19 years smoking on a daily basis fell by 44%. Over the same period, daily smoking fell by 30% among those aged 20–29 years.

• Despite declines by both sexes, the proportion of males smoking tobacco daily remained higher than females in all age groups except among those aged 40–49 years (males 18%; females 19%) and 14–19 years (males 6%; females 11%).

• While not statistically significant, between 2001 and 2004 there was a general increase in the proportion of persons aged 14–19 years and 20–29 years reporting that they had never smoked tobacco (78% to 89% and 52% to 58% respectively).

26

Of the three age groups presented, males aged 18–24 years recorded a slightly higher proportion of daily smokers (Table 24), with little change occurring between 2001 and 2004.

The proportion of females smoking on a daily basis was relatively similar for each age group and lower than those recorded by their male counterparts.

Table 24: Tobacco smoking status, persons aged 18 years and over by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Smoking status 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Daily 22.6 22.6 26.3 19.2 26.3 21.9 20.7 18.3Weekly 3.2 3.1 * 3.3 3.6 3.2 3.4 2.3 1.8Less than weekly 4.9 – 4.5 2.0 * 4.5 2.5 2.9 1.5Ex-smoker(a) 8.7 5.2 * 15.6 18.0 19.4 22.0 30.7 33.9Never smoked(b) 60.6 69.1 50.3 57.2 46.6 50.2 43.5 44.4

Daily 22.4 14.5 26.2 15.3 # 25.5 15.3 # 19.5 14.2 #

Weekly 2.8 3.6 * 2.8 3.2 3.0 3.3 1.6 1.7Less than weekly 3.4 0.6 * 3.6 2.7 2.8 2.3 1.7 1.3Ex-smoker(a) 9.4 12.3 14.5 20.6 # 19.0 26.6 # 22.4 28.2 #

Never smoked(b) 62.0 69.0 52.9 58.2 49.7 52.5 54.8 54.6

Daily 22.5 18.6 26.2 17.2 # 25.9 18.6 # 20.1 16.2 #

Weekly 3.0 3.4 3.1 3.4 3.0 3.4 2.0 1.8Less than weekly 4.2 0.3# * 4.0 2.3 3.6 2.4 2.3 1.4Ex-smoker(a) 9.0 8.7 15.1 19.3 19.2 24.3 # 26.5 31.0 #

Never smoked(b) 61.3 69.1 51.6 57.7 # 48.2 51.3 49.1 49.6(a) Smoked at least 100 cigarettes (or equivalent) in lifetime, but reported no longer smoking. (b) Never smoked more than 100 cigarettes or equivalent amount of tobacco. (c) 18 years and over.

Persons

18–24 18–34 20–39 Total(c)

Age group

(Per cent)

Males

Females

• Around one in five WA males aged 18–24 years (23%), 18–34 years (19%) and 20–39 years (22%) smoked tobacco on a daily basis in 2004. There was no change recorded between 2001 and 2004 among males aged 18–24 years; however, the latter two age groups recorded small, although not statistically significant falls in prevalence.

• In 2004, 15% of females aged 18–24 years, 18–34 years and 20–39 years were daily tobacco smokers.

• Between 2001 and 2004, there was a significant decline in the proportion of females aged 18–34 years (41%) and 20–39 years (40%) smoking daily.

• The proportion of Western Australians aged 18–34 years who stated that they had never smoked tobacco increased significantly between 2001 and 2004, from 52% to 58% respectively.

27

The average number of cigarettes smoked by WA males and females decreased among younger age groups between 2001 and 2004, and increased among the two older age groups presented (Table 25).

Regardless of age, males on average, smoked a greater number of cigarettes per week than females.

Table 25: Recent tobacco smokers: mean number of cigarettes smoked per week by age and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Age group 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

14–19 113.3 63.3 55.5 62.5 86.1 62.820–29 103.4 93.7 97.8 72.4 100.7 84.430–39 94.6 100.4 128.7 89.7 112.9 95.940–49 131.8 124.3 115.9 115.5 125.2 119.850–59 183.9 205.6 135.2 105.9 159.6 164.660+ 131.4 136.2 83.4 122.3 109.3 129.5All ages 119.6 123.1 108.5 94.9 114.2 110.1(a) Recent smokers are those who have smoked at least 100 cigarettes in their lifetime and have used in the past 12 months.

Males Females Total

(Number of cigarettes)

• In 2004, males aged 14 years and over smoked an average of 123 cigarettes per week. This was a slight increase on the 2001 figure (120 per week) and higher than the number of cigarettes smoked by their female counterparts (95 per week).

• Males aged 50–59 years, on average, smoked the greatest number of cigarettes at 206 per week. This was an increase of almost 22 cigarettes when compared to the 2001 average.

• Females aged 60 years and over smoked the greatest number of cigarettes on average in 2004 (122 per week). This was an increase of almost 39 cigarettes per week compared to the 2001 figure.

• Excluding the two older age groups, Western Australians recorded a fall in the average number of cigarettes smoked each week, including; 14–19 years: 23 per week, 20–29 years: 16 per week, 30–39 years: 17 per week, and 40–49 years: 5 per week.

28

Alcohol From 2001 to 2004, there was no statistically significant change in the proportion of Western Australians aged 14 years and over who drank alcohol on a daily basis. However, over this period there was a significant increase in the proportion of those drinking weekly and a significant decrease in the proportion of those drinking less than weekly (Table 26).

Table 26: Alcohol drinking status, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Alcohol drinking status 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Daily 11.3 14.8 # 6.0 5.6 8.7 10.1Weekly 48.5 51.7 36.5 41.8 # 42.5 46.7 #

Less than weekly 26.2 23.0 40.1 36.9 33.1 30.0 #

Ex-drinker(a) 7.3 4.8 # 8.2 7.3 7.8 6.1 #

Never a full glass 6.7 5.6 9.2 8.4 8.0 7.0 #

(a) Consumed a full serve of alcohol, but not in the past year.

(Per cent)


• An estimated 118,600 (10%) Western Australians aged 14 years and over drank alcohol on a daily basis in 2004.

• The proportion of WA males aged 14 years and over who reported that they drank alcohol on a daily basis increased significantly between 2001 and 2004, from 11% to 15% respectively.

• In both 2001 and 2004, around 6% of females aged 14 years and over drank daily.

• The proportion of those drinking weekly increased significantly from 43% in 2001, to 47% in 2004, while those drinking less than weekly fell from 33% to 30% respectively. This equated to an estimated 756,800 Western Australians aged 14 years and over drinking at least weekly, with an additional 485,800 drinking less than weekly.

• There was a small yet significant fall in the proportion of Western Australians who had never tried alcohol, from 8% in 2001 to 7% in 2004.

29

Western Australians aged 60 years and over were the most likely to report drinking alcohol on a daily basis in 2004. More than twice as many males as females within this age group drank daily (Table 27).

Table 27: Alcohol drinking status by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Alcohol drinking status 14–19 20–29 30–39 40–49 50–59 60+ Total

2001Daily 1.6 * 9.2 4.1 9.9 17.0 24.9 11.3Weekly 32.7 56.1 60.2 52.6 50.5 34.0 48.5Less than weekly 38.8 26.3 24.5 28.5 22.1 19.1 26.2Ex-drinker(a) 7.6 3.7 5.0 6.2 5.8 15.7 7.3Never a full glass 19.4 4.7 6.2 2.8 4.6 6.3 6.7

Daily 0.9 * 2.6 3.3 5.7 11.0 11.3 6.0Weekly 30.8 46.6 41.4 44.2 30.2 22.9 36.5Less than weekly 49.7 43.2 41.6 39.4 34.6 34.7 40.1Ex-drinker(a) 2.1 * 4.3 8.3 4.1 13.5 15.0 8.2Never a full glass 16.4 3.2 5.3 6.6 10.8 16.1 9.2

Daily 1.2 * 5.9 3.7 8.0 14.1 17.7 8.7Weekly 31.8 51.3 49.9 48.8 40.6 28.1 42.5Less than weekly 43.9 34.8 33.9 33.4 28.2 27.4 33.1Ex-drinker(a) 5.0 4.0 6.8 5.2 9.6 15.3 70.8Never a full glass 18.0 4.0 5.7 4.5 7.6 11.5 8.0

2004Daily 0.7 * 9.3 14.1 # 10.5 20.8 28.5 14.8 #

Weekly 37.8 58.1 58.4 66.0 # 47.3 36.7 51.7Less than weekly 29.6 25.8 23.8 19.5 21.3 20.6 23.0Ex-drinker(a) 2.5 * 4.0 2.2 * 3.8 4.4 11.0 4.8 #

Never a full glass 29.5 2.7 * 1.5* # 0.1 * 6.2 3.2 5.6

Daily – 1.5 * 1.1 * 7.3 9.3 11.2 5.6Weekly 24.5 50.1 46.1 48.9 37.5 37.0 # 41.8 #

Less than weekly 55.8 38.1 42.6 31.9 37.0 25.7 # 36.9Ex-drinker(a) 2.0 5.5 4.7 8.8 6.0 # 13.4 7.3Never a full glass 17.6 4.7 5.5 3.2 10.1 12.6 8.4

Daily 0.3 * 5.5 7.6 # 8.8 15.1 19.3 10.1Weekly 31.3 54.2 52.2 57.4 # 42.4 36.9 # 46.7 #

Less than weekly 42.4 31.9 33.2 25.8 # 29.1 23.3 30.0 #

Ex-drinker(a) 2.2 * 4.8 3.5 # 6.3 5.2 # 12.3 6.1 #

Never a full glass 23.7 3.7 3.5 1.7 # 8.2 8.2 7.0(a) Consumed a full serve of alcohol, but not in the past year.

Persons

Males

Females

Persons

Age group

(Per cent)

Males

Females

• In 2004, Western Australians aged 60 years and over were the most likely to report drinking alcohol on a daily basis (19%). Within this age group, males were more than twice as likely to drink daily than females (29% and 11% respectively).

• In 2004, almost one quarter (24%) of all 14–19 year olds had never consumed a full serve of alcohol.

• The highest proportion of ex-drinkers was among those aged 60 years and over (12%).

30

In 2004, respondents were asked on average, how many standard alcoholic drinks they would consume on a day when they drank. Younger Western Australians were more likely than their older counterparts to consume three or more drinks, while persons aged 40 years and over were more likely to consume less than three drinks (Table 28). Little change was recorded between 2001 and 2004.

For each age group, the proportion of males who drank less than three drinks on a day that they drank was lower than females.

Table 28: Number of standard drinks usually consumed, recent drinkers(a) by age and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

No of standard drinks 14–19 20–29 30–39 40+ Total(b)

20011–2 23.7 24.1 34.8 49.5 39.43–4 23.2 31.3 37.2 30.7 31.25–6 22.5 21.8 16.6 12.3 15.97–10 18.0 16.8 8.7 4.8 9.111+ 12.7 6.0 2.8 2.8 4.4

1–2 29.8 43.0 60.4 78.0 62.13–4 27.7 33.1 27.9 17.1 23.85–6 18.9 14.5 8.2 4.5 8.87–10 11.7 5.9 3.2 0.2 3.211+ 11.9 3.4 0.3 * 0.1 2.1

1–2 26.7 33.5 48.7 62.8 50.53–4 25.4 32.2 32.2 24.4 27.55–6 20.7 18.2 12.0 8.7 12.47–10 14.9 11.3 5.7 2.7 * 6.211+ 12.3 4.7 1.4 1.5 * 3.3

20041–2 25.9 18.0 38.7 47.0 38.33–4 14.6 26.0 32.8 34.2 30.85–6 16.9 22.5 17.0 11.6 15.17–10 11.2 17.9 6.7 5.5 8.511+ 31.4 # 15.6 # 4.9 1.8 7.4 #

1–2 44.2 42.0 58.7 74.8 62.73–4 24.2 25.0 28.7 21.0 23.55–6 13.6 21.5 8.5 3.2 8.67–10 15.9 6.7 2.8 0.6 * 3.611+ 2.1* # 4.8 1.3 * 0.4 * 1.5

1–2 35.6 29.7 48.3 60.6 50.23–4 19.7 25.5 30.8 27.8 27.25–6 15.2 22.0 12.9 7.5 11.97–10 13.7 12.5 4.8 3.1 6.111+ 15.9 10.4 3.1 1.1 4.5

(a) Consumed alcohol in the past year. (b) 14 years and over.

Persons

Males

Females

Persons

Age group

(Per cent)

Males

Females

31

• On average, in 2004, half (50%) of all Western Australians aged 14 years and over consumed between one and two standard drinks on a day that they drank. However, a higher proportion of females (63%) drank at this level than males (38%), with these figures changing little between 2001 and 2004.

• In 2004, almost half of all male drinkers aged 14 years and over (46%) drank between three and six drinks compared to around one in three females (32%).

• A higher proportion of those aged 40 years and over (88%), drank four drinks or less, than those aged 14–19 years (55%) and 20–29 years (55%).

• The proportion of those who drank at high levels (seven or more) was highly related to age, with 30% and 23% of younger persons aged 14–19 years and 20–29 years drinking seven or more drinks respectively. This was compared to 8% of those aged 30–39 years and 4% of those aged 40 years and over.

• The proportion of males aged 14–19 years who drank seven or more drinks increased by 39% between 2001 and 2004, and fell by 24% among their female counterparts.

Long term alcohol risk A person’s alcohol consumption can be defined in terms of short and long term risk of harm. Long-term alcohol risk is assessed in terms of the amount of alcohol that is consumed over a usual week. Ill effects associated with high-risk long-term alcohol use include chronic illness related to diseases of the liver, digestive system and brain and cardiovascular disease (Crouchley et al. 2006). For further information on guidelines, measures and definitions for long and short term risky/high risk drinking, see NHMRC (2001).

Between 2001 and 2004, there was a small increase in the proportion of Western Australians aged 14 years and over with drinking patterns defined as “low-risk”. The proportion of males aged 14 years and over who drank at either risky or high-risk levels was slightly higher than their female counterparts, with little change recorded between 2001 and 2004 (Table 29).

32

Table 29: Alcohol consumption, proportion of the population aged 14 years and over at risk of harm in the long-term by age and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Age 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

14–19 28.5 31.9 60.4 52.5 8.4 9.4 2.7 6.1 11.1 15.520–29 8.6 6.8 68.2 77.3 14.4 6.7 8.8 9.2 23.2 15.930–39 11.4 3.7 # 82.3 82.4 4.6 10.7 # 1.7 * 3.3 6.3 13.9 #

40–49 9.2 4.0 79.8 87.2 8.6 6.8 2.4 * 2.0 * 11.0 8.850–59 11.0 10.6 76.2 73.9 8.5 7.0 4.4 8.4 12.9 15.560 + 23.0 14.2 # 68.8 76.3 5.2 7.1 3.0 2.3 8.2 9.4Ages 14+ 14.4 10.5 # 73.4 76.6 8.3 7.9 3.8 5.1 12.2 12.9

14–19 19.4 19.7 59.3 71.7 16.6 8.1 4.7 0.5 * 21.4 8.6 #

20–29 7.9 10.3 75.0 73.8 12.2 13.2 4.9 2.7 17.2 16.030–39 14.0 10.2 75.3 80.5 8.7 6.4 2.0 2.9 10.7 9.440–49 11.5 12.0 80.6 76.0 6.9 9.2 1.0 * 2.8 7.9 12.150–59 24.8 16.1 69.0 76.2 4.9 6.2 1.2 * 1.5 * 6.1 7.760 + 34.0 26.0 63.2 68.2 2.4 5.0 0.4 * 0.8 * 2.8 5.8Ages 14+ 18.4 15.7 71.2 74.4 8.2 8.0 2.2 1.9 10.4 9.9

14–19 24.2 25.9 59.9 61.9 12.3 8.8 3.7 3.4 15.9 12.220–29 8.2 8.5 71.6 75.6 13.3 9.9 6.9 6.0 20.2 15.930–39 12.8 6.9 # 78.5 81.4 6.9 8.5 1.8 3.1 8.7 11.640–49 10.2 8.0 80.1 81.5 7.8 8.0 1.8 2.4 9.6 10.550–59 17.8 13.3 72.6 75.0 6.7 6.6 2.8 5.0 9.5 11.660 + 28.7 20.5 65.9 72.0 3.7 6.0 1.7 1.5 5.4 7.5Ages 14+ 16.4 13.1 # 72.3 75.5 # 8.3 7.9 3.1 3.5 11.3 11.4

(b) Has not consumed alcohol in the past 12 months.

(a) For males, the consumption of up to 28 standard drinks per week is considered ‘Low risk’, 29 to 42 per week ‘Risky’, and 43 or more per week ‘High risk’. For females, the consumption of up to 14 standard drinks per week is considered ‘Low risk’, 15 to 28 per week ‘Risky’, and 29 or more per week ‘High risk’.

(Per cent)

Males

Females

Persons

Level of risk(a)

Abstainers(b) Low risk Risky High risk Risky/highrisk

• In 2004, males aged 14 years and over were more likely to consume alcohol at risky/high risk levels than females (13% and 10% respectively).

• Around 104,000 males (13%) and 81,000 females (10%) aged 14 years and over drank alcohol at risky or high risk levels for harm in the long term in 2004.

• Males age 14 years and over (5%) were more likely than females (2%) to drink alcohol at levels that put them at a high risk of harm in the long term. This equated to 41,000 and 16,000 males and females respectively.

• In 2004, more than three quarters (76%) of all persons aged 14 years and over were classified as low risk of harm in the long term. This was significantly higher than the 2001 figure (72%).

Short term alcohol risk Short-term alcohol risk is assessed primarily according to the amount of alcohol that is consumed on a usual drinking day, although weekly consumption is also taken into consideration. In the short term, risky and high-risk alcohol consumption can result in behavioural problems, violence and increased risk of accidents, falls and injury.

In 2004, males aged 14 years and over were more likely than females to drink alcohol at levels that put them at risk or high risk of harm in the short-term. No change in prevalence was recorded by either males or females between 2001 and 2004.

33

Western Australians aged 20–29 years were more likely than other age groups to drink at risky/high risk levels.

Table 30: Alcohol consumption: proportion of the population aged 14 years and over at risk of harm in the short term, by age and sex, Australia, 2001 and 2004

Age 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

14–19 27.0 31.9 26.2 29.9 13.7 4.4 22.6 11.6 10.5 22.2 # 46.8 38.220–29 8.4 6.8 20.6 23.8 20.0 23.6 29.4 23.9 21.5 21.9 70.9 69.430–39 11.2 3.7 # 31.7 36.6 24.8 24.1 25.3 24.5 7.0 11.1 57.0 59.740–49 8.9 4.0 51.0 48.4 17.2 24.0 15.5 15.6 7.4 8.0 40.1 47.650–59 10.5 10.6 62.2 57.2 8.9 11.7 7.6 10.0 10.8 10.4 27.3 32.160 + 21.9 14.2 64.9 67.9 3.0 7.1 5.8 5.4 4.3 5.3 13.2 17.9Ages 14+ 13.9 10.5 # 43.4 44.8 14.9 16.7 17.7 15.5 10.2 12.5 42.7 44.7

14–19 18.6 19.7 28.4 36.3 15.6 11.4 22.5 24.2 15.0 8.5 53.1 44.020–29 7.6 10.3 30.8 28.8 18.9 22.8 30.8 26.4 11.9 11.7 61.6 60.930–39 13.6 10.2 50.2 48.4 16.9 21.9 13.9 13.1 5.4 6.4 36.2 41.440–49 10.7 12.0 60.3 50.7 15.5 22.4 9.0 7.5 4.4 7.4 29.0 37.350–59 24.3 16.1 59.1 66.5 7.2 10.7 5.6 3.6 3.9 3.0 16.6 17.460 + 30.7 26.0 64.1 65.5 2.5 5.3 1.5 * 0.9 * 1.2 * 2.3 5.2 8.5Ages 14+ 17.4 15.7 50.1 50.6 12.7 15.9 # 13.4 11.5 6.4 6.3 32.5 33.7

14–19 23.0 25.9 27.2 33.0 14.6 7.8 22.5 17.7 12.6 15.5 49.8 41.020–29 8.0 8.5 25.8 26.3 19.5 23.2 # 30.1 25.2 16.7 16.9 66.2 65.230–39 12.5 6.9 # 41.8 42.5 20.5 23.0 19.1 18.8 6.1 8.7 45.6 50.540–49 9.7 8.0 55.2 49.6 16.5 23.2 12.6 11.5 6.0 7.7 35.1 42.450–59 17.2 13.3 60.7 61.8 8.0 11.2 6.6 6.9 7.4 6.7 22.1 24.860 + 26.6 20.5 64.5 66.6 2.8 6.2 # 3.5 3.0 2.7 3.7 8.9 12.9Ages 14+ 15.7 13.1 # 46.7 47.7 13.8 16.3 # 15.5 13.5 8.3 9.4 37.6 39.1(a) For males, the consumption of 7 or more standard drinks on any one day. For females, the consumption of 5 or more standard drinks on any one day. (b) Not consumed alcohol in the past 12 months.

(Per cent)

Males

Females

Persons

Risky and high risk(a)

Abstainers(b) Low risk At least yearly At least monthly At least weekly Risky/high risk

• In 2004, almost half (45%) of all males aged 14 years and over drank alcohol at risky or high-risk level for short-term harm. By comparison one in three (34%) females drank at these levels. This equated to around 358,900 and 275,000 WA males and females respectively.

• Overall, 13% of males and 6% of females drank at risky or high-risk levels on a weekly basis.

• Males and females aged 20–29 years recorded the highest prevalence for drinking at risky/high risk levels (70% and 60% respectively).

• One in five males (22%) and one in ten females (12%) aged 20–29 years consumed alcohol at risky/high risk levels, at least weekly in 2004.

• In 2004, more than half (55%) all males age 14 years and over, and almost seven in every ten females (66%) either abstained from alcohol or consumed at levels defined as low risk for short term harm.

34

Illicit drugs Any illicit There was little change in the proportion of Western Australians aged 14 years and over who stated that they had tried at least one illicit drug. However, there was a significant decline in the proportion of those who had used illicit drugs in the past year, as well as the proportion who had used in the previous month (Table 31).

Table 31: Use of any illicit drug by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Age Males Females Persons Males Females Persons Males Females Persons

200114–19 43.7 49.2 43.3 33.0 38.1 35.4 20.3 23.9 22.020–29 72.5 67.5 70.0 45.0 39.4 42.2 33.4 22.8 28.130–39 68.5 55.1 61.1 33.2 22.9 47.6 22.0 15.6 18.440–49 49.9 38.6 44.8 20.7 12.6 17.1 15.8 6.0 11.450–59 26.0 20.0 23.0 9.5 7.4 8.4 8.7 2.1 * 5.560 + 8.4 7.6 8.0 4.4 3.1 3.7 0.4 * 0.6 * 0.5 *Ages 14+ 46.0 40.2 43.1 24.3 19.9 22.4 16.8 11.3 14.0

200414–19 37.1 33.7 # 35.5 27.7 30.5 24.8 # 16.5 10.9 # 13.7 #

20–29 69.7 63.2 66.5 42.5 16.8 # 36.6 25.9 16.8 21.430–39 69.8 61.9 65.9 30.7 7.4 # 23.8 # 17.7 10.4 14.040–49 58.8 43.0 50.8 15.6 5.2 # 11.4 # 9.9 4.3 7.150–59 31.5 21.9 26.8 6.3 3.6 5.7 1.6* # 2.7 2.1 #

60 + 12.5 9.7 11.0 4.3 29.5 # 3.9 3.0 2.1 2.5 #

Ages 14+ 47.9 39.0 43.4 21.1 13.5 # 17.3 # 12.4 # 7.5 # 9.9 #

(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(c) Used at least once in last month.

Ever used(a) Recent use(b) Used in past month(c)

(Per cent)

• In 2004, almost half (48%) of all males aged 14 years and over had tried at least one illicit drug. This was higher than among their female counterparts (39%) and similar to figures recorded in 2001. This equated to approximately 375,800 males and 312,400 females.

• One in five males (21%) and around one in every seven females (14%) aged 14 years and over stated that they had used at least one illicit drug in the past year.

• The proportion of males aged 14 years and over who had used an illicit drug in the previous month fell significantly from 17% in 2001, to 12% in 2004. Females also experienced a decline in illicit drug use from 11% to 8% over this period.

• Males and females aged 20–29 years were the most likely age group in 2004 to have tried illicit drugs (67%), to have recently used (37%) and to have used in the past month (21%).

35

In 2004, males were more likely to have tried at least one of six major illicit drugs than females. Males were also more likely to have used in the past year and the past month (Table 32).

While there was a general decline among both males and females who had used at least one of six major illicit drugs in the past year or the past month, females who had used in the past year recorded the only significant fall when compared to 2001 figures.

Table 32: Use of any 6 illicit drugs(d) by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 42.7 42.2 42.5 30.6 31.3 31.0 20.0 18.6 19.420–29 72.0 66.4 69.2 43.7 36.9 40.3 32.4 21.2 26.830–39 65.6 51.2 57.7 30.8 19.8 24.8 21.0 13.5 16.840–49 44.9 36.5 41.1 16.9 11.1 14.2 13.0 5.8 9.850–59 23.8 14.6 19.3 8.1 3.5 5.8 7.8 1.4 * 4.760 + 4.5 3.3 3.9 2.4 * 0.5 * 1.4 – – –Ages 14+ 43.2 36.2 39.7 22.0 16.6 19.3 15.5 9.7 12.6

200414–19 32.8 30.9 31.9 24.7 20.9 22.8 13.7 10.7 # 12.220–29 68.1 61.2 64.7 40.9 29.9 35.5 24.8 15.7 20.330–39 68.8 59.5 64.2 27.7 15.1 21.4 16.0 9.4 12.740–49 56.8 42.2 49.4 14.7 6.4 10.5 9.1 4.1 6.650–59 27.9 16.2 22.1 3.7 1.2 * 2.4 1.3 * 0.2 * 0.8* #

60 + 8.3 5.8 7.0 1.0 * 0.4 * 0.7 * 1.0 * 0.3 * 0.6 *Ages 14+ 45.1 36.1 40.5 18.7 11.5 # 15.1 11.0 6.4 8.7(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(c) Used at least once in last month. (d) Refers to any of the six drugs: marijuana, heroin, amphetamines, cocaine, hallucinogens and/or ecstasy.


(Per cent)

• Of the six major illicit drugs used in WA, 45% of males and 36% of females aged 14 years and over had tried at least one at some time in their life. This equated to approximately 356,500 males and 291,000 females.

• In 2004, almost one in five males (19%) and slightly over one in ten females (12%) had used at least one of the six major illicit drugs in the past year. This was lower than the figure reported in 2001 for both males and females; however, only the female figure was statistically significant. This represented 147,900 males and 92,900 females.

• Approximately 86,900 males and 51,400 females used at least on major illicit drug in the previous month. This represented around one in ten males (11%) and one in every 16 (6%) females. There was a general fall recorded between 2001 and 2004; however this was not statistically significant.

• Of the six drugs included in Table 32, persons aged 20–29 years were the most likely to report having tried, used in the past year and used in the past month (65%, 36% and 20% respectively).

36

Marijuana/cannabis Marijuana use is highly related to age, with younger Western Australians more likely to have used in the previous year and the past month than older Western Australians.

Little change was recorded among the proportion of Western Australians who had tried marijuana at least once in their lives, between 2001 and 2004. However, significant falls were recorded among those who had used marijuana in the previous year and the previous month (Table 33).

Table 33: Use of marijuana by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 42.7 41.4 42.1 30.1 29.6 29.9 17.7 16.5 17.120–29 71.2 65.5 68.3 39.3 28.8 34.0 25.7 14.5 20.130–39 64.2 50.2 56.5 29.1 18 23.0 19.3 11.7 15.140–49 44.6 35.8 40.6 16.3 10.5 13.7 12.3 5.5 9.250–59 22.8 13.4 18.2 7.9 3.2 5.6 7.6 1.1 * 4.560 + 4.4 2.8 3.5 2.3 * 0.4 * 1.3 0.0 0.0 0.0Ages 14+ 42.3 35.2 38.8 20.6 14.5 17.5 13.7 7.9 10.8

200414–19 32.8 29.0 30.9 # 24.0 18.0 # 21.1 # 13.7 10.6 12.220–29 67.4 60.2 63.8 38.7 24.6 31.7 22.9 12.0 17.530–39 67.8 59.0 63.4 25.7 12.8 19.3 15.5 8.3 11.940–49 56.8 # 41.2 48.9 # 14.7 5.8 10.2 8.9 3.7 6.350–59 27.0 15.3 21.2 3.6 1.1 * 2.4 1.3# * 0.2 * 0.8# *60 + 7.7 5.0 6.3 1.0 * 0.2 * 0.5 * 1.0 * – 0.5 *Ages 14+ 44.3 35.0 39.6 17.7 9.7 # 13.7 # 10.4 # 5.4 # 7.9 #

(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(c) Used at least once in last month.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, around 353,300 (44%) males and 283,800 (35%) females aged 14 years and over had tried marijuana. This was similar to the proportion reported in 2001.

• Almost twice as many males than females reported using marijuana in the previous year in 2004 (18% and 10% respectively). Among females, this represented a significant fall of 15% from the 2001 figure.

• One in every ten males (10%) reported that they had used marijuana in the previous month. This was twice as high as the female figure (5%); however both males and females recorded significant falls in monthly use between 2001 and 2004.

• In 2004, persons aged 20–29 and 30–39 were the most likely to have reported using marijuana at some time in their life, at 64% and 63% respectively.

• The highest proportion of those who had used marijuana in the previous year and the previous month was among those aged 20–29 years (32% and 18% respectively).

37

There was no significant change in the frequency of marijuana use among males and females between 2001 and 2004. Males were more likely than females to use marijuana on a daily basis (Table 34).

Table 34: Frequency of marijuana use by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

(Per cent)Every day 18.1 15.5 15.0 11.2 16.8 14.0Once a week or more 30.7 27.6 19.5 22.4 26.1 25.8About once a month 13.0 12.8 13.8 10.1 13.3 11.8Less than monthly 38.2 44.1 51.7 56.4 43.8 48.5Note: Base = those who have used marijuana in the past 12 months.

Males Females Total

• In 2004, around 16% of males and 11% of females aged 14 years and over who used marijuana in the previous year, used on a daily basis. This equated to approximately 21,000 and 8,800 males and females respectively.

• A further 28% of males and 22% of females (39,000 and 17,500 persons respectively) used marijuana at least weekly.

• Around 13% (18,100) and 11% (7,900) of males and females respectively, used at marijuana at least monthly.

There was no statistically significant change in the use of marijuana among any of the age groups presented between 2001 and 2004.

In 2004, there was little difference in the proportion of those who had used marijuana in the previous year, who used daily (Table 35).

Table 35: Frequency of marijuana use by age, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Every day 13.9 13.3 17.9 13.1 14.1 14.0 21.3 13.2Once a week or more 28.9 24.4 21.1 23.1 29.3 31.6 27.7 26.3About once a month 9.4 17.8 14.9 12.3 12.1 10.5 15.9 9.2Less than monthly 47.8 44.4 46.1 51.5 44.6 43.9 35.1 51.3Note: Base = those who have used marijuana in the past 12 months.

(Per cent)

14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• Regardless of age, a similar proportion of those aged 14 years and over who had used marijuana in the previous year, used on a daily basis.

• Persons aged 30–39 years in 2004 were more likely than other age groups to use marijuana at least weekly, than each of the other age groups presented.

38

The mean number of cones, bongs or joints a person uses is related to age, with those in younger age groups using a higher number, on average, than their older counterparts.

There was no change in the mean number of cones, bongs or joints used among each of the age groups presented between 2001 and 2004 (Table 36).

Table 36: Recent marijuana users: mean number of cones, bongs or joints per day, persons aged 14 years by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004 Age group 2001 2004

14–19 4.4 4.320–29 3.3 3.230–39 2.5 2.940+ 3.0 2.0All ages 3.3 3.1Note: Base = those who have used marijuana in the past 12 months.

(Mean number)

• In 2004, persons aged 14–19 years smoked on average 4.3 cones, bongs or joints on a day when they used marijuana. This was the highest of any of the age groups presented.

• Marijuana users aged 40 years and over, on average, used fewer cones, bongs or joints (2.0) than their younger counterparts.

Among those who had used marijuana in the previous 12 months, heads were the most common form used, with leaf the second most common form. No significant changes were noted between 2001 and 2004 (Table 37).

Table 37: Proportion of those who have used each form of marijuana in previous year by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

(Per cent)Leaf 46.4 44.4 50.5 53.2 48.1 47.5Heads 87.3 78.5 78.3 71.9 83.6 76.1Resin (including hash) 16.8 11.3 10.8 13.5 14.4 12.1Other 29.3 24.7 20.1 13.8 25.5 20.8Note: Base = those who have used marijuana in the past 12 months.

Males Females Total

• In 2004, almost eight in every ten (76%) persons aged 14 years and over who had used marijuana in the previous year had used heads. This was similar to the 2001 figure (84%).

• After heads, the most common form of marijuana used was leaf (48%), followed by other forms (21%).

• Hash (resin) was used by the least people (12%).

39

A similar proportion of those who used marijuana in the previous year either smoked it as joints or used a bong or pipe. A smaller proportion either ate it (e.g. hash cookies) or mixed it with tobacco (Table 38).

There was no significant change in the method of use recorded between 2001 and 2004.

Table 38: Marijuana, method of use by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

(Per cent)Smoked joints 81.9 84.9 78.6 83.8 80.5 84.5Smoked from bong or pipe 86.4 88.7 81.4 85.5 84.3 87.5Eating (e.g. Hash cookies) 53.3 57.1 44.1 53.7 49.5 55.9Marijuana mixed with tobacco 50.4 51.3 45.5 51.3 48.3 51.3Note: Base = those who have used marijuana in the past 12 months.

Males Females Total

• The most common method used when using marijuana/cannabis in 2004, was bong or pipe (88%) and joints (85%).

• In 2004, around half of those who had used marijuana/cannabis in the previous year consumed it orally (e.g. cookies) (56%), or mixed it with tobacco (51%).

• Males and females used similar methods while using marijuana/cannabis in 2004.

Regardless of age, the method of choice for recent marijuana/cannabis users was joints or bongs/pipes. However, a smaller proportion of recent users aged 40 years and over employed eating, or mixing with tobacco as their method of use (Table 39).

Table 39: Marijuana, method of use by age, WA, 2001 and 2004

Age group 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Smoked joints 78.0 89.9 79.7 81.9 84.8 86.7 79.2 83.5Smoked from bong or pipe 96.9 83.5 92.6 91.2 79.6 92.0 64.2 76.2Eating (e.g. Hash cookies) 46.4 53.2 56.6 63.6 49.8 57.0 40.7 39.8Marijuana mixed with tobacco 52.7 44.9 50.6 64.9 45.7 46.0 43.5 32.8Note: Base = those who have used marijuana in the past 12 months.

40+

(Per cent)

14–19 20–29 30–39

• In 2004, around 90% of those aged 14–19 years who used marijuana/cannabis in the previous year smoked joints. This was similar to the other age groups, 20–29 years (82%), 30–39 years (87%) and 40 years and over (84%).

• Except for persons aged 40 years and over (76%), at least eight in ten of those who used in the previous year smoked from a bong or pipe.

• Mixing marijuana with tobacco was least common among persons aged 40 years and over (33%).

40

The most common drug used at the same time as marijuana was alcohol, followed by amphetamines and ecstasy (Table 40). This was similar to the figures noted in 2001.

Table 40: Drugs used at the same time as marijuana by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

(Per cent)Alcohol 85.9 94.4 81.8 87.3 84.2 91.6Heroin 3.0 1.1 * 1.9 * 1.8 * 2.6 1.3 *Cocaine/crack 7.0 9.0 3.2 3.4 5.4 7.0Tranquillisers 6.1 4.0 3.1 7.5 4.9 5.2Anti-depressants 2.8 3.1 7.2 4.1 4.6 3.4Pain-killers 7.5 6.3 6.7 7.3 7.2 6.6Barbiturates 0.3 * 0.9 * 0.0 0.7 * 0.2 * 0.8 *Amphetamines 30.4 30.8 19.5 24.5 25.9 28.5Ecstasy 23.2 28.4 10.5 21.3 17.9 25.9Other 3.2 4.5 3.7 0.9 * 3.4 3.2None of the above 11.6 4.2 16.5 8.7 13.6 5.8Note: Base = those who have used marijuana in the past 12 months.

Males Females Total

• Alcohol was the most common drug used at the same time as marijuana in 2004 with more than nine in every ten persons (92%) surveyed consuming alcohol at the same time as marijuana.

• After alcohol, amphetamines and ecstasy were the most common drugs taken at the same time as marijuana (29% and 26% respectively).

• Females were less likely than males to consume alcohol, amphetamines or ecstasy at the same time as marijuana.

41

Alcohol, followed by amphetamines and ecstasy were the most common drugs used at the same time as marijuana by all age groups in 2001. However, a higher proportion of those aged 14–19 years consumed alcohol, and a greater number of those aged 20–29 years used amphetamines or ecstasy at the same time as they used marijuana (Table 41).

Table 41: Drugs used at the same time as marijuana by sex, WA, persons aged 14 years and over, 2001 and 2004

Drug/behaviour 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Alcohol 83.2 97.0 91.5 91.1 83.4 93.1 74.1 85.3Heroin 2.3 * 0.7 * 3.4 1.7 * 3.7 * 1.0 * – 1.4 *Cocaine/crack 5.6 8.5 * 8.4 7.6 4.3 9.9 1.9 –Tranquillisers 4.4 2.7 * 9.1 8.4 2.1 * 4.3 * 1.9 * 1.6 *Anti-depressants 4.1 2.3 * 4.4 3.3 * 4.3 6.1 5.9 * 1.0 *Pain-killers 8.5 9.9 * 5.3 7.1 7.4 5.8 8.7 * 3.7 *Barbiturates – – – – – – – –Amphetamines 28.9 16.1 36.6 43.1 17.3 27.6 15.7 8.2Ecstasy 18.0 19.2 29.4 37.6 9.2 24.4 9.4 7.5Other 6.2 – 4.5 4.9 1.5 * 3.9 * 1.2 * 1.5 *None of the above 15.6 2.3 * 7.2 3.6 * 13.5 5.5 22.5 14.7Note: Base = those who have used marijuana in the past 12 months.

(Per cent)

14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• Regardless of age, alcohol was the most common drug used in conjunction with marijuana, followed by amphetamines and ecstasy.

• Persons aged 14–19 years were the most likely to use alcohol at the same time as marijuana (97%), while those aged 40 years and over were the least likely (85%).

• More than one in three of those aged 20–29 years who used marijuana in the previous year had used amphetamines or ecstasy at the same time (43% and 38%) respectively.

42

Heroin The proportion of Western Australians aged 14 years and over who have used heroin is relatively low, with no statistically significant changes reported between 2001 and 2004. Males were more likely than females to have used heroin, while persons aged 20–29 years reported the highest prevalence figures (Table 42).

Table 42: Use of heroin by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Age Males Females Persons Males Females Persons

200114–19 3.1 0.9 * 2.1 1.8 * 0.3 * 1.1 *20–29 6.6 2.2 4.4 – 0.6 * 0.3 *30–39 4.2 2.6 3.3 1.1 * 0.2 * 0.6 *40+ 2.5 0.5 * 1.5 – – –Ages 14+ 3.6 1.3 2.4 0.4 * 0.2 * 0.3

200414–19 – 1.3 * 0.6 * – 0.4 * 0.2 *20–29 3.9 2.6 3.3 1.4 * – 0.7 *30–39 2.6 * 1.9 2.2 – – –40+ 2.0 0.5 * 1.2 0.1 * – –Ages 14+ 2.3 1.2 1.7 0.3 * – 0.2 *(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.

Ever used(a) Recent use(b)

(Per cent)

• In 2004, it was estimated that 27,500 WA males and females aged 14 years and over had used heroin at some point in their life. This equated to around 2.3% of males and 1.2% of females.

• Males aged 20–29 years (3.9%) were the most likely to report heroin use, followed by males aged 30–39 years and females 20–29 years (2.6% respectively).

• In 2001, 0.3% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over had used heroin at some time in the previous year. Errors associated with 2004 figures were too great for reliable comparisons to be made.

43

Amphetamines WA males aged 14 years and over were more likely than their female counterparts to have tried amphetamines at least once, with little change recorded between 2001 and 2004. Males were also more likely than females to have used amphetamines in the past year and the past month (Table 43).

Between 2001 and 2004, there was a significant fall in the proportion of Western Australians who had used amphetamines in the previous month.

Table 43: Use of amphetamines(d) by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 14.6 12.8 13.8 11.6 11.8 11.7 8.5 6.9 7.720–29 30.2 27.4 28.8 20.1 15.2 17.6 10.4 6.3 8.430–39 20.5 11.6 15.6 5.3 3.9 4.6 2.4 2.5 2.540+ 4.8 3.2 4.0 1.1 0.4 * 0.8 0.9 * 0.4 * 0.618–34 28.2 23.5 25.9 17.2 12.2 14.8 9.9 5.9 7.920–39 25.4 18.9 22.0 12.8 9.1 10.9 6.5 4.3 5.3Ages 14+ 13.2 10.3 11.8 6.5 5.0 5.8 3.8 2.6 3.2

200414–19 12.2 8.7 10.5 5.4 * 6.0 5.7 # 3.6 1.7 * 2.7 #

20–29 33.8 25.8 29.9 18.9 11.8 15.4 9.3 5.1 7.230–39 25.9 15.1 20.5 6.5 4.3 5.4 1.1 * 2.3 1.740+ 5.7 2.3 4.0 0.6 * 0.2 * 0.4 0.2 * 0.1 * 0.2 *18–34 33.0 23.1 28.1 16.0 10.5 13.3 7.0 4.2 5.620–39 29.8 20.3 25.1 12.6 7.9 10.3 5.1 3.6 4.4Ages 14+ 15.1 9.3 12.2 5.5 3.5 4.5 2.4 1.5 1.9 #

(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(c) Used at least once in last month. (d) For non-medical purposes.

Ever used(a) Used in past month(c)

(Per cent)

Recent use(b)

• In 2004, around one in every seven males (15%) and one in every ten females (9%) aged 14 years and over had tried amphetamines at least once in their lifetime. This represented around 120,300 males and 75,600 females.

• Males were more likely than females to have recently used amphetamines, with 6% (43,600 persons) having used in the previous year and 2% (18,900 persons) having used in the previous month. This compared to 4% (28,700 persons) and 2% (12,300 persons) of males and females respectively.

• Among persons aged 20–29 years, almost one in three (30%) had tried amphetamines, while 15% (one in six) had used in the previous year and 7% (one in 14) had used in the previous month.

44

Ecstasy Between 2001 and 2004, there was little change in the proportion of Western Australians who had tried ecstasy, or used ecstasy recently (Table 44).

Males were more likely to have tried ecstasy than females and were more likely to have used in the previous year and the previous month.

Table 44: Use of ecstasy by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 10.9 9.3 10.1 9.4 6.6 8.1 4.5 2.6 3.620–29 27.2 24.2 26.0 16.6 10.6 13.6 7.8 2.0 4.930–39 15.0 8.4 11.4 3.7 1.9 2.7 0.3 * 0.4 * 0.3 *40+ 2.1 1.5 1.8 0.3 * 0.3 * 0.3 * 0.1 – –Ages 14+ 10.0 7.8 8.9 4.9 3.2 4.0 2.0 0.7 1.4

200414–19 12.8 7.1 10.0 8.5 4.7 6.7 2.2 * 2.4 * 2.3 *20–29 34.0 25.5 29.8 17.7 10.9 14.3 9.5 4.3 6.930–39 18.6 12.6 15.6 4.9 3.6 4.2 1.1 * 1.8 * 1.4 *40+ 2.7 0.9 1.8 0.4 * 0.2 * 0.3 * – 0.1 0.1Ages 14+ 12.3 7.9 10.1 5.2 3.1 4.1 2.1 1.4 1.7(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(c) Used at least once in last month.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, 12% of males and 8% of females aged 14 years and over had used ecstasy at some time in their lives. This equated to approximately 98,100 males and 63,700 females.

• Around 5% of males and 3% of females reported that they had used ecstasy in the previous year, while 2% and 1% respectively had used in the previous month. This equated to approximately 66,400 and 28,000 persons using ecstasy in the past year and past month respectively.

• Persons aged 20–29 years were the most likely to have used ecstasy, with around one in three males (34%) and one in four females (26%) having used at least once in their lifetime.

• Around 14% (one in seven) of those aged 20–29 years had used ecstasy in the previous year, while 7% (one in 14) had used in the previous month.

45

Painkillers The proportion of Western Australians aged 14 years and over who had tried, or recently used painkillers for non-medical purposes fell significantly between 2001 and 2004 (Table 45).

In 2001, a slightly higher proportion of females reported that they had recently used painkillers for non-medical purposes than males. However, in 2004, little difference was noted between the two groups.

Table 45: Use of painkillers(d) by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 6.1 16.9 11.2 3.9 12.7 8.0 0.5 * 7.4 3.720–29 11.1 8.9 10.0 3.6 5.6 4.6 1.6 * 2.6 2.130–39 7.7 10.0 9.0 2.8 5.1 4.1 1.4 * 2.8 2.240+_ 5.5 4.5 5.0 2.8 2.4 2.6 1.9 0.4 * 1.2Ages 14+ 6.9 7.8 7.4 3.1 4.7 3.9 1.6 2.1 1.8

200414–19 5.2 * 4.4 # 4.8 # – 3.1* # 1.5* # – 2.9 * 1.4 *20–29 11.6 9.2 10.4 5.8 5.0 5.4 1.7 * 2.8 2.230–39 6.1 4.8 # 5.5 4.7 2.8 3.7 1.4 * 1.1 * 1.240+_ 3.0 3.2 3.1 # 1.3 2.0 1.6 0.6 * 0.9 0.7Ages 14+ 5.4 4.7 # 5.0 # 2.6 2.8 # 2.7 0.9 1.5 1.2(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(c) Used at least once in last month. (d) For non-medical purposes.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, a similar proportion of males and females aged 14 years and over (5%) had used painkillers for non-medical purposes at least once. However, females reported a significant fall from the proportion of those who stated that they had ever used painkillers, in 2001 (8%).

• Overall, 42,800 males and 37,800 females aged 14 years and over stated that they had used painkillers for non-medical purposes.

• Around 3% (one in 33) of males and females had recently used painkillers for non-medical purposes in 2004. Among females, this represented a significant fall from the 2001 figure (5%). This equated to approximately 42,600 persons.

• Males and females aged 20–29 years were the most likely to report that they had used painkillers for non-medical purposes at some time in their lives (10%).

• In 2001, approximately one in ten (11%) persons aged 14–19 years had used painkillers for non-medical purposes. However, this figure fell significantly in 2004, with one in 20 of those in this aged groups indicating that they had used painkillers.

46

Tranquillisers There was a slight, although not statistically significant fall in the proportion of Western Australians aged 14 years and over who had tried or recently used tranquillisers for non-medical purposes between 2001 and 2004.

Reported use was similar among both males and females, while those aged 20–29 years were the most likely to have ever used and recently used tranquillises for non-medical purposes (Table 46).

Table 46: Use of tranquillisers(d) by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 5.2 6.1 5.6 4.2 4.1 4.220–29 9.3 6.0 7.6 3.6 3.1 3.430–39 4.9 4.6 4.7 1.0 * 2.0 1.540+ 2.7 1.6 2.1 0.7 * 0.4 * 0.5Ages 14+ 4.5 3.5 4.0 1.7 1.6 1.7

200414–19 – 3.2 * 1.6* # – 2.3 * 1.1 *20–29 6.8 6.6 6.7 2.6 * 3.9 3.330–39 3.5 4.1 3.8 1.6 * 0.7 * 1.240+ 2.0 1.6 1.8 0.7 * 0.8 0.7Ages 14+ 2.9 3.1 3.0 1.1 1.5 1.3(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(d) For non-medical purposes.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, approximately 3% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over had used tranquillisers for non-medical purposes. This was slightly lower, although not significantly different from the 2001 figure (4%) and equated to around 47,700 persons.

• Around one in every 100 persons aged 14 years and over had recently used tranquillisers for non-medical purposes in 2004.

• Persons aged 20–29 years were the most likely to have used (7%) or recently used (3%) tranquillisers.

47

Steroids The proportion of Western Australians who have used steroids was relatively low in both 2001 and 2004.

Table 47: Use of steroids by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 – 0.3 * 0.1 * – 0.3 * 0.1 *20–29 0.9 * 0.2 * 0.6 * – 0.2 * 0.1 *30–39 1.6 * 0.5 * 1.0 0.2 * 0.2 * 0.2 *40+ 0.2 * – 0.1 * – – –Ages 14+ 0.6 0.2 * 0.4 – 0.1 * 0.1 *

200414–19 0.7 * 0.1 * 0.4 * 0.7 * 0.1 * 0.4 *20–29 – 0.2 * 0.1 * – – –30–39 1.1 * – 0.5 * – – –40+ 0.3 * – 0.1 * – – –Ages 14+ 0.4 * 0.0 * 0.2 0.1 * – –(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, only 0.2% of persons aged 14 years and over stated that they had used steroids. Errors associated with all other figures were relatively high and as such should be viewed with caution.

48

Barbiturates The proportion of Western Australians who had used barbiturates for non-medical purposes was similar in 2001 and 2004, with males more likely than females to have used (Table 48).

Table 48: Use of barbiturates(d) by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 1.0 * 0.9 * 1.0 * 1.0 * 0.9 * 1.0 *20–29 1.9 * 0.9 * 1.4 0.3 * – 0.2 *30–39 2.3 1.0 * 1.6 0.2 * 0.4 * 0.3 *40+ 1.2 0.5 * 0.9 – – –Ages 14+ 1.5 0.7 1.1 0.2 * 0.2 * 0.2

200414–19 1.0 * 1.5 * 1.3 * 1.0 * 0.9 * 0.9 *20–29 4.5 1.4 * 3.0 1.1 * 0.4 * 0.8 *30–39 3.0 1.2 * 2.1 0.4 * – 0.2 *40+ 1.4 0.5 * 1.0 – – –Ages 14+ 2.2 0.9 1.5 0.4 * 0.2 * 0.3(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(c) For non-medical purposes.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, males aged 14 years and over were more likely than their female counterparts to have used barbiturates for non-medical purposes (2.2% and 0.9% respectively).

• Relatively few (0.3%) of those aged 14 years and over indicated that they had used barbiturates in the previous year.

• Persons aged 20–29 years (3%) were the most likely to report having used barbiturates, with around one in 20 (5%) males within this age group having used at least once.

49

Inhalants The proportion of WA males and females who had used inhalants remained relatively stable between 2001 and 2004, while males were more likely to have used than females.

Those aged 20–29 years were the most likely to have used inhalants at some time throughout their lives (Table 49).

Table 49: Use of inhalants by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 6.6 4.7 5.7 1.5 * 3.1 2.320–29 9.9 7.7 8.8 2.1 * 1.1 * 1.630–39 2.9 2.4 2.6 0.3 * 0.2 * 0.3 *40+ 1.4 1.3 1.4 0.1 * 0.0 0.0Ages 14+ 3.8 3.1 3.4 0.7 0.6 0.6

200414–19 3.7 * 3.5 * 3.6 2.1 * 2.0 * 2.0 *20–29 11.3 7.0 9.2 1.2 * 0.7 * 1.0 *30–39 5.8 3.1 4.4 – * 0.2 * 0.1 *40+ 1.4 0.1# * 0.7 0.3 * 0.1 * 0.2 *Ages 14+ 4.2 2.2 3.2 0.6 0.4 0.5(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, twice as many males (4%), than females (2%) aged 14 years and over had used inhalants, with little change recorded from 2001 to 2004. This represented around 51,300 persons.

• The highest proportion of those who had ever used (9%) were aged 20–29 years, while persons aged 14–19 years had the highest proportion of recent users (2%).

50

Methadone Only a small proportion of Western Australians reported that they had ever used methadone for purposes other than maintenance, with similar figures reported in 2001 and 2004.

Table 50: Use of methadone(d) by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 0.5 * 1.8 * 1.1 * 0.5 * 0.8 * 0.6 *20–29 0.5 * 0.2 * 0.3 * – – –30–39 0.8 * 0.5 * 0.6 * 0.2 * 0.2 * 0.2 *40+ – 0.3 * 0.1 * – – –Ages 14+ 0.3 * 0.5 0.4 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.1 *

200414–19 – 0.1 * 0.1 * – 0.1 0.1 *20–29 – 0.5 * 0.2 * – – –30–39 0.4 * 0.3 * 0.3 * – – –40+ 0.7 * 0.2 * 0.4 0.1 0.1 * 0.1 *Ages 14+ 0.4 * 0.3 * 0.3 0.1 0.1 * 0.1 *(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(c) Non-maintenance.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, 0.3% of persons aged 14 years and over indicated that they had used methadone for purposes other than maintenance. This was similar to the 2001 figure (0.4).

51

Cocaine Cocaine use changed little in Western Australia between 2001 and 2004, with males more likely than females to have used and those aged 20–29 years recording the highest proportion of ever and recent users (Table 51).

Table 51: Use of cocaine by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 4.2 2.7 3.5 1.8 * 2.7 2.220–29 11.5 10.2 10.9 5.1 4.8 4.930–39 9.3 5.7 7.3 1.2 * 1.8 1.540+ 2.9 1.3 2.1 0.1 * 0.2 * 0.1 *Ages 14+ 5.7 3.9 4.8 1.4 1.6 1.5

200414–19 3.5 * 1.6 * 2.6 1.0 * 1.3 * 1.1 *20–29 11.8 8.5 10.2 6.2 2.5 4.430–39 10.7 7.8 9.3 1.3 * 1.6 * 1.540+ 2.2 0.9 1.5 – 0.2 * 0.1 *Ages 14+ 5.6 3.5 4.6 1.5 0.9 1.2(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, around one in 20 persons (5%) aged 14 years and over had tried cocaine at least once. This was similar to the proportion of those who had tried cocaine in 2001, and equated to approximately 73,400 persons.

• Males were more likely to have tried cocaine than females (6% and 4% respectively).

• In 2004, slightly more than one in every 100 persons (1.2%) aged 14 years and over had used cocaine in the previous year. This represented approximately 19,200 persons.

• Males and females aged 20–29 years were the most likely to have ever used cocaine (12% and 9% respectively), and to have used recently (6% and 3% respectively).

52

Hallucinogens Little difference in the use of hallucinogens was noted from 2001 to 2004, with twice as many males than females having used at least once and those aged 20–29 years reporting the highest use (Table 52).

Table 52: Use of hallucinogens by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 8.5 8.8 8.6 4.6 5.9 5.220–29 27.3 21.5 24.4 9.3 3.1 6.330–39 17.9 11.0 14.1 1.5 * 1.0 * 1.240+ 6.3 2.9 4.6 – 0.3 * 0.1 *Ages 14+ 12.3 8.5 10.4 2.4 1.5 2.0

200414–19 5.8 * 1.7 * 3.8 * 1.6 * 0.1 * 0.9 *20–29 28.8 17.4 23.2 4.7 * 0.5 * 2.6 *30–39 19.4 10.1 * 14.8 1.0 * – 0.5 *40+ 5.9 * 2.7 * 4.3 * – – –Ages 14+ 12.5 6.5 9.5 1.2 * 0.1 * 0.6 *(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, twice as many males than females had tried hallucinogens (13% and 7% respectively).

• Overall, around 14,300 Western Australians aged 14 years and over have tried hallucinogens as of 2004.

• Almost one in three males (29%) and one in six females (17%) aged 20–29 years had tried hallucinogens.

• In 2001, 2% of those aged 14 years and over had used hallucinogens in the previous year. Numbers in 2004 were too low to reliably report.

53

Other opiates There was no change in the use of other opiates, (opiates other than heroin and methadone) between 2001 and 2004. Males were more likely than females to have ever used, while a similar proportion of those aged 20–29 and 30–39 years had ever used (Table 53).

Table 53: Use of other opiates by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 3.4 1.2 * 2.3 1.6 * 0.8 * 1.2 *20–29 4.4 2.8 3.6 0.4 * 1.7 1.130–39 2.5 1.7 2.0 0.3 * 0.7 * 0.5 *40+ 2.1 0.9 1.5 0.5 * 0.2 * 0.3 *Ages 14+ 2.7 1.4 2.1 0.6 0.6 0.6

200414–19 – 0.8 * 0.4 * – 0.4 * 0.2 *20–29 4.4 1.9 * 3.1 1.4 * 0.3 * 0.8 *30–39 4.5 2.0 3.3 0.5 * 0.4 * 0.4 *40+ 1.1 0.6 * 0.9 – 0.1 * –Ages 14+ 2.2 1.1 1.6 0.3 * 0.2 * 0.3(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.


(Per cent)

• Around 2% of males and 1% of females indicated that they had used other opiates at least once in their lifetime in 2004.

• In 2004, a relatively small number of those aged 14 years and over (0.3%) had used other opiates in the previous 12 months.

• Around 3% of those aged 20–29 years and 30–39 years had used other opiates at least once.

54

Injected drugs Males were more likely to have injected drugs than females, with little change noted from 2001 to 2004 (Table 54). Younger Western Australians aged 20–29 years were the more likely than other age groups to indicate that they had previously injected illicit drugs.

Table 54: Use of injecting drugs(d) by age group and sex, WA, 2001 and 2004


200114–19 4.4 2.5 * 3.5 3.4 1.9 * 2.720–29 9.1 5.5 7.3 3.3 2.4 2.930–39 6.4 3.4 4.8 1.8 * 0.9 * 1.340+ 2.2 1.2 1.7 0.5 * 0.2 * 0.3 *Ages 14+ 4.4 2.6 3.5 1.6 1.0 1.3

200414–19 – 1.3 * 0.7 * – 1.3 * 0.7 *20–29 8.1 5.8 7.0 4.2 1.0 * 2.630–39 6.0 3.2 4.6 1.6 * 0.9 * 1.340+ 2.2 0.3 * 1.2 0.5 * 0.1 * 0.2 *Ages 14+ 3.7 1.9 2.8 1.3 0.5 0.9(a) Used at least once in lifetime.(b) Used at least once in the past year.(c) Any illicit drug injected.


(Per cent)

• In 2004, males aged 14 years and over were more likely than their female counterparts to have injected illicit drugs (4% and 2% respectively).

• Overall, around 44,600 WA males and females have injected illicit drugs at some time in their lives.

• Around one in 12 males (8%) and one in 17 females (6%) aged 20–29 years have injected illicit drugs at least once in their lifetime.

• Slightly less than 1% of persons aged 14 years and over stated that they had injected illicit drugs at least once in the previous year.

55

Of those who have injected illicit drugs in WA, the majority stated that the first drugs they injected were amphetamines. This was also the case among those who injected within the past 12 months (Table 55).

Table 55: Injecting drug use, first and most recent drug injected, persons aged 14 years and over who have ever injected a drug by sex, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Heroin 31.5 7.4# * 15.6 9.7 * 25.8 8.3 * 26.0 * 12.7 * 14.2 * 9.0 * 21.5 11.6 *Methadone – – – – – – 6.2 – 3.4 * – 5.2 * –Other opiates 4.7 * 2.7 * 3.8 * – 4.4 * 1.6 * 20.6 – 17.1 * 14.4 * 19.3 4.1 *Amphetamines 55.8 81.4 74.9 90.3 62.7 84.9 89.8 93.4 90.4 100 90.1 95.3Cocaine 1.0 * – 2.4 * – 1.5 * – 12.7 * 4.4 * 11.7 * – 12.3 3.1 *Hallucinogens 1.1 * 2.3 * 1.1 * – 1.1 * 1.4 * 4.3 * – 3.4 * – 3.9 * –Ecstacy – – 2.2 * – 0.8 * – 23.8 4.4 * 15.2 * 5.5 * 20.5 4.7 *Steroids 5.8 * 4.6 * – – 3.7 * 2.8 * – – 7.8 * – 3.0 * –Benzodiazepines – – – – – – – – – – – –Other drugs – 1.7 * – – – 1.0 * 3.1 * – 14.2 * – 7.4 * –(a) Base = those who have ever injected. (b) Base = those who have injected in the past 12 months.

(Per cent)

Injected in past 12 months(b)

Males Females Persons Males Females PersonsFirst drug injected(a)

• In 2004, those who stated that they had previously injected an illicit drug cited amphetamines in more than eight in every ten cases (85%) as the drug that they first injected. This was higher than in 2001 when 63% cited amphetamines.

• There was a significant fall in the proportion of males citing heroin as the first drug injected from 32% in 2001 to 7% in 2004.

• Of those who injected at least once in the year prior to the 2004 survey, more than nine in every ten (95%) cited amphetamines as the drug injected.

56

Supply In 2004, the majority of illicit drugs were supplied by friends or acquaintances, while those that were available from shops, such as many solvents, were more likely to be sourced from these locations.

Table 56: Source of supply of illicit drugs, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Drug 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Marijuana/cannabis 69.2 75.5 6.7 8.6 10.7 11.6 – – – – 13.4 4.3 #

Pain killers(a) 8.7 22.6 # 11.4 9.2 * 3.0 * 2.2 * 5.5 5.4 * 64.3 54.1 7.1 6.5 *Tranquillisers(a) 38.8 34.1 10.6 11.0 * – 3.1 * 17.0 16.4 * – – 33.6 35.4Steroids(a) 49.4 * 14.6 * 50.6 * – – – – – – – – 85.Barbiturates

4(a) 52.6 – 40.9 * – 15.1 * – 21.5 * – – – – –

Inhalants 40.3 26.2 * – – 2.3 * – – – 45.7 63.4 11.7 * 10.4 *Heroin 48.2 92.4 – – 44.4 7.6 * – – – – 7.4 *Methadone

–(b) 34.4 * 100 – – 44.0 * – – – – – 21.7 *

Amphetamines–

(a) 69.0 73.9 2.3 * 2.4 * 23.7 18.6 – – – – 5.0 5.Cocaine 73.3 82.9 – 1.7 * 23.6 15.4 * – – – – 3.1 *Hallucinogens 64.4 61.4 5.6 * 3.1 * 17.7 26.6 * – – – – 12.3 8.Ecstasy 69.8 73.0 2.8 * 4.8 * 26.0 17.7 – – – – 1.4 * 4.(a) Non-medical use.(b) Non-maintenance.Base = respondents who have used the particular drug in the past 12 months.

Most common sources of supply

(Per cent)

Friend or acquaintance Relative Dealer

Dr shopping/ forged script Buy at shop Other

2–9 *5 *

• In 2004, illicit drugs were more likely to be supplied by friends or acquaintances than any other source, including: marijuana (76%), heroin (92%), cocaine (83%) and ecstasy (73%).

• Those that were available for purchase such as many solvents were more likely to be obtained from retail outlets, including: painkillers (54%) and inhalants (63%).

57

Community support for drug-related behaviours and policy Tobacco Support for banning smoking in pubs and clubs and proposals that make it harder to buy tobacco in shops increased significantly from 2001 to 2004 (Table 57).

Females were more likely to support measures designed to reduce the harmful impact of tobacco than males, as were residents of Perth (compared to the rest of the state).

Table 57: Support(a) for tobacco measures, persons aged 14 years and over by age and sex and location, WA, 2001 and 2004

Measure 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Stricter enforcement of law against supplying cigarettes to underage customers 88.9 87.5 92.0 91.8 90.5 89.6 90.4 89.9 90.5 89.7Banning smoking in the workplace 79.3 80.7 85.3 87.8 84.0 85.3 77.3 81.4 82.3 84.3Banning smoking in pubs/clubs 59.2 65.1 # 64.6 71.8 # 63.8 70.3 # 56.4 63.2 61.9 68.5 #

Increasing the tax on tobacco products to pay for health education programs 63.6 61.4 67.5 69.7 67.5 67.6 59.7 59.7 65.5 65.5Increasing the tax on tobacco products to contribute to the cost of treating smoking related diseases 66.6 65.2 68.6 69.5 69.1 70.0 63.2 59.8 67.6 67.4Increasing the tax on tobacco products to discourage people from smoking 60.0 59.7 63.8 69.5 # 63.5 66.4 57.2 59.6 61.9 64.7Make it harder to buy tobacco in shops 59.1 62.4 61.1 67.5 # 61.2 65.4 # 57.0 63.6 60.1 65.0 #

Bans on point of sale advertising and display of tobacco in shops .. 67.4 .. 76.0 .. 72.8 .. 68.7 .. 71.8Implementing a licensing scheme for tobacco retailers .. 65.9 .. 71.9 .. 69.4 .. 67.3 .. 68.9Stricter penalties for the sale or supply tobacco products to those under 18 years of age .. 85.0 .. 89.8 .. 87.8 .. 86.5 .. 87.4(a) Support or strongly support.

Sex Location

(Per cent)

Males Females Capital city Rest of state Total

• In 2004, around nine in every ten (90%) Western Australians aged 14 years and over supported strict enforcement of laws against the supply of tobacco products to underage customers. A slightly higher proportion of females (92%) than males (88%) supported such measures.

• Support for the banning of smoking in clubs and pubs increased between 2001 and 2004 amongst both males and females, from 59% to 65% and 65% to 72% respectively.

58

In 2004, support for strict enforcement of laws against supplying tobacco products to underage customers increased with age, while support for banning smoking in the workplace was higher among those aged 30 years and over than younger age groups (Table 58).

Table 58: Support(a) for tobacco measures by age group, WA, 2001 and 2004

Measure 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Stricter enforcement of law against supplying cigarettes to underage customers 73.5 82.6 88.6 85.5 93.5 89.3 # 93.6 92.5 89.7 86.7 91.1 87.5 #

Banning smoking in the workplace 68.3 78.6 78.3 77.2 83.3 85.2 86.4 87.5 78.7 80.0 80.8 81.4Banning smoking in pubs/clubs 44.7 60.8 # 51.9 58.0 61.2 64.7 69.6 74.8 # 53.9 61.4 # 56.6 61.5 #

Increasing the tax on tobacco products to pay for health education programs 62.7 70.1 62.5 63.9 65.5 63.4 67.2 66.0 62.5 65.9 64.0 63.6Increasing the tax on tobacco products to contribute to the cost of treating smoking related diseases 62.2 66.4 66.7 63.8 65.0 65.7 70.0 69.4 65.3 66.4 65.8 64.8Increasing the tax on tobacco products to discourage people from smoking 58.9 72.6 # 58.9 63.1 60.6 61.5 64.1 64.8 58.3 63.1 59.8 62.3Make it harder to buy tobacco in shops 57.1 72.4 # 56.2 56.1 60.7 64.3 62.0 66.6 # 57.2 61.4 58.5 60.4Bans on point of sale advertising and display of tobacco in shops .. 70.7 .. 65.1 .. 70.5 .. 74.6 .. 66.7 .. 67.9Implementing a licensing scheme for tobacco retailers .. 65.9 .. 67.7 .. 71.4 .. 68.9 .. 69.4 .. 69.7Stricter penalties for the sale or supply tobacco products to those under 18 years of age .. 80.5 .. 82.9 .. 89.2 .. 89.6 .. 85.3 .. 86.2(a) Support or strongly support.

(Per cent)

Age group14–19 20–29 30–39 40+ 18–34 20–39

• In 2004, more than nine in every ten (93%) persons aged 40 years and over supported strict enforcement of laws against supplying tobacco products to underage customers. This compared to eight in ten (83%) of those aged 14–19 years.

• There was a significant increase in the proportion of those aged 14–19 years who supported the banning of smoking in pubs and clubs between 2001 and 2004, from 45% to 61% respectively. However, this was still lower than the proportion of those aged 40 years and over who support the ban on smoking in pubs and clubs (75%).

• There was a significant increase in the proportion of persons aged 14–19 years who supported measures that would make it harder to purchase tobacco in shops, from 57% in 2001, to 72% in 2004. A small, yet significant increase was also recorded amongst those aged 40 years and over from 62% to 67% respectively.

59

Daily smokers were less likely than non-smokers to support a number of measures including: banning smoking in the workplace, banning smoking in pubs and clubs, increasing taxes to support education programs and medical treatment and making it harder to purchase tobacco in shops (Table 59).

Table 59: Support(a) for tobacco measures by smoking status, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Measure 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Stricter enforcement of law against supplying cigarettes to underage customers 83.3 81.5 87.7 80.5 84.0 82.6 93.6 91.1 92.1 91.8Banning smoking in the workplace 54.5 57.2 67.1 74.8 82.6 72.1 88.2 88.6 91.2 90.3Banning smoking in pubs/clubs 22.8 27.5 20.3 44.0 # 32.8 29.7 70.7 72.8 76.4 79.7Increasing the tax on tobacco products to pay for health education programs 23.9 20.2 37.0 39.5 43.4 43.2 70.3 66.7 82.8 79.8Increasing the tax on tobacco products to contribute to the cost of treating smoking related diseases 30.8 25.7 41.0 42.1 54.8 43.2 72.7 73.0 81.9 78.0 #

Increasing the tax on tobacco products to discourage people from smoking 25.2 22.1 34.1 40.1 42.2 31.5 65.3 66.6 77.6 77.7Make it harder to by tobacco in shops 30.7 30.5 34.8 46.3 50.8 35.3 63.1 69.1 72.3 74.1Bans on point of sale advertising and display of tobacco in shops .. 49.4 .. 63.0 .. 51.1 .. 74.7 .. 77.4Implementing a licensing scheme for tobacco retailers .. 46.3 .. 62.7 .. 63.0 .. 71.8 .. 74.1Stricter penalties for the sale or supply tobacco products to those under 18 years of age .. 80.3 .. 75.2 .. 74.3 .. 88.4 .. 89.7(a) Support or strongly support.

Smoking status

(Per cent)

Daily WeeklyLess than

Weekly Ex-smoker Never smoked

• In 2004, the proportion of those supporting strict enforcement of laws against supplying tobacco product to underage customers was related to smoking status, with daily smokers less likely than ex-smokers and those who have never smoked to support this initiative (82% and 92% respectively).

• Those who have never smoked (90%) were considerably more likely to support the banning of smoking in the work place than daily smokers (57%).

• Only around one in four daily smokers (26%) supported increasing the tax on tobacco in order to contribute to the cost of treating smoking-related diseases, compared to four in ten (43%) of those who smoke less than weekly and eight in ten (78%) of those who have never smoked.

60

Alcohol Respondents were asked to indicate their support for a series of measures designed to reduce problems associated with the excessive use of alcohol. Females were more likely than males to support the majority of measures including, increasing the price of alcohol, reducing the number of outlets that sell alcohol, reducing trading hours and serving only low alcohol drinks at sporting events (Table 60).

Support for the reported measures was relatively similar among residents of Perth, and those resident in areas outside the metropolitan area.

Table 60: Support(a) for measures to reduce problems associated with the excessive use of alcohol by sex and location, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Measure 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Increase the price of alcohol 15.1 14.4 22.1 20.3 19.0 17.2 17.1 17.9 18.6 17.4Reduce the number of outlets that sell alcohol 18.7 16.5 26.5 25.5 21.8 19.1 24.6 26.9 22.5 21.1Reducing trading hours for all pubs and clubs 20.2 18.5 29.4 26.5 24.4 20.5 # 26.0 28.5 24.8 22.5Serving only low alcohol drinks, such as low alcohol beer at sporting events 55.5 52.6 66.0 63.9 61.8 57.3 # 57.4 61.5 60.7 58.4Increasing the number of alcohol-free public events 57.5 52.3 68.7 67.3 63.4 58.5 # 62.3 64.2 63.1 59.9Increasing the number of alcohol-free zones or dry areas 57.1 58.1 63.2 64.1 60.9 59.4 58.1 66.2 # 60.1 61.1Raising the legal drinking age 36.9 37.1 43.8 45.1 40.3 40.3 40.4 43.4 40.3 41.1Stricter enforcement of the law against serving customers who are drunk 78.1 74.7 87.5 86.8 83.6 80.6 80.5 81.5 82.8 80.9More severe legal penalties for drink driving 78.5 77.7 90.3 90.7 84.6 84.9 83.8 82.5 84.8 84.3Restricting late night trading of alcohol 38.9 36.7 51.9 51.7 44.8 42.2 47.1 50.6 45.3 44.3Strict monitoring of late night licensed premises 63.2 63.2 72.2 69.3 68 65.8 66.8 67.6 67.7 66.2Limiting advertising for alcohol on TV until after 9:30pm 60.5 65.1 73.0 74.7 68.1 69.3 62.8 72.1 # 66.7 70.0 #

Banning alcohol sponsorship of sporting events 35.2 37.2 50.1 51.9 43.2 44.1 40.9 46.3 42.6 44.7

Requiring information on national drinking guidelines on all alcohol containers 64.2 63.0 76.3 77.0 70.9 70.4 68.4 68.9 70.3 70.1Increasing the size of standard drink labels on alcohol containers 61.7 57.0 76.9 72.9 69.4 65.8 68.6 62.6 69.2 65.0 #

Increasing the tax on alcohol products to pay for health, education, and the cost of treating alcohol related problems .. 29.5 .. 37.8 .. 33.1 .. 35.2 .. 33.7(a) Support or strongly support.

(Per cent)

LocationMales Females Capital city Rest of state Total

Sex

• In 2004, slightly more than one in ten males (14%) and one in five females (20%) supported increasing the price of alcohol as a measure to reduce problems associated with the excessive use of alcohol.

• Raising the legal drinking age was supported by one in four (41%) Western Australians aged 14 years and over (males 37%, females 45%).

• Only one in five persons (23%) supported a reduction in trading hours for clubs and pubs.

• In 2004, 78% of males and 91% of females supported the introduction of more severe legal penalties for drink driving.

61

For most of the measures presented (Table 61), support is lower among those aged 14–19 years and higher among those aged 40 years and over. This includes measures such as reducing trading hours for all pubs and clubs, serving only low alcohol beer at sporting events, raising the legal drinking age and reducing late night trading of alcohol.

Table 61: Support(a) for measures to reduce problems associated with the excessive use of alcohol by age, WA, 2001 and 2004

Measure 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

Increase the price of alcohol 13.7 13.8 10.7 12.0 17.1 16.1 23.1 20.3Reduce the number of outlets that sell alcohol 14.4 11.8 11.5 13.3 20.2 18.4 29.4 26.5Reducing trading hours for all pubs and clubs 13.3 7.9 10.6 12.2 20.5 20.0 34.3 30.0Serving only low alcohol drinks, such as low alcohol beer at sporting events 39.5 38.7 42.2 39.6 59.4 56.7 72.6 69.0Increasing the number of alcohol-free public events 50.4 49.0 47.4 43.5 63.6 57.2 71.4 68.5Increasing the number of alcohol-free zones or dry areas 45 42.0 45.8 45.3 63.4 63.4 67.4 69.3Raising the legal drinking age 16.6 10.0 25.6 29.8 40.8 38.4 51.0 52.3Stricter enforcement of the law against serving customers who are drunk 67.6 60.4 72.3 69.9 79.4 80.3 91.1 88.7More severe legal penalties for drink driving 78.7 80.8 84.1 79.1 85.3 85.3 85.4 86.4Restricting late night trading of alcohol 24.2 19.5 25.1 23.1 39.2 40.3 59.7 57.7Strict monitoring of late night licensed premises 48.5 47.9 57.1 49.5 62.4 65.1 77.6 75.8Limiting advertising for alcohol on TV until after 9:30pm 36.4 43.3 55.4 60.3 68.1 69.4 76.9 78.7Banning alcohol sponsorship of sporting events 22.2 22.1 29.7 31.2 41.4 41.4 52.3 54.8Requiring information on national drinking guidelines on all alcohol containers 51.3 54.0 64.3 56.9 70.8 71.3 76.4 77.3Increasing the size of standard drink labels on alcohol containers 57.3 48.1 64.3 53.6 # 68.7 67.9 73.8 71.2products to pay for health, education, and the cost of treating alcohol related problems .. 30.1 .. 25.9 .. 29.4 .. 38.5(a) Support or strongly support.

(Per cent)

Age group14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• In 2004, more than twice as many Western Australians aged 40 years and over supported reducing the number of outlets that sell alcohol than their counterparts aged 14–19 years (27% and 12% respectively).

• Less than one in every three (8%) persons aged 14–19 years supported a reduction in trading hours for pubs and clubs, compared to almost one in three (30%) persons aged 40 years and over.

• Only one in ten (10%) of those aged 14–19 years supported raising the legal drinking age, compared to over half (52%) of those aged 40 years and over.

62

When asked a series of questions relating to measures designed to reduce problems associated with excessive use of alcohol, ex-drinkers and those who have never consumed alcohol were more likely to indicate support than daily or weekly drinkers (Table 62). This included measures such as increasing the price of alcohol, reducing the trading hours of pubs and clubs, and increasing taxes to pay for education programs and alcohol-related medical problems.

Table 62: Support(a) for measures to reduce problems associated with the excessive use of alcohol by drinking status, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Measure 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

(Per cent)Increase the price of alcohol 6.1 12.0 7.4 7.0 25.2 22.3 44.6 56.3 44.4 49.5Reduce the number of outlets that sell alcohol 11.1 14.1 11.5 9.9 28.7 27.8 51.5 65.8 # 46.6 47.9Reducing trading hours for all pubs and clubs 19.2 13.6 14.4 13.6 28.3 27.8 53.9 59.3 48.9 48.6Serving only low alcohol drinks, such as low alcohol beer at sporting events 58.7 53.9 52.4 52.6 64.4 62.4 78.9 81.1 78.0 70.1Increasing the number of alcohol-free public events 52.3 50.6 54.3 51.1 69.8 70.3 83.0 78.9 77.6 73.1Increasing the number of alcohol-free zones or dry areas 48.8 55.5 51.9 54.0 66.0 69.3 77.4 75.6 78.0 72.3Raising the legal drinking age 42.5 39.9 29.1 33.2 44.4 46.7 62.1 74.2 65.1 46.8 #

Stricter enforcement of the law against serving customers who are drunk 82.8 84.9 78.6 77.3 85.7 83.7 88.6 91.3 89.0 77.9 #

More severe legal penalties for drink driving 76.2 78.1 79.9 80.3 89.5 89.6 92.2 95.5 89.3 86.9Restricting late night trading of alcohol 47.2 33.3 # 33.2 37.5 51.1 50.6 68.6 72.3 66.7 56.7Strict monitoring of late night licensed premises 69.5 67.5 61.1 60.0 70.9 70.4 81.0 87.6 77.2 72.6Limiting advertising for alcohol on TV until after 9:30pm 68.4 67.5 # 61.8 66.0 69.5 72.6 78.6 89.3 # 69.5 74.5Banning alcohol sponsorship of sporting events 41.2 31.5 32.8 36.8 47.6 52.2 64.7 78.3 # 57.8 56.8

Requiring information on national drinking guidelines on all alcohol containers 68.7 66.7 63.8 66.1 75.4 72.4 80.5 89.8 77.4 76.9Increasing the size of standard drink labels on alcohol containers 67.3 61.2 62.9 59.2 75.2 71.4 79.4 82.4 72.1 69.1Increasing the tax on alcohol products to pay for health, education, and the cost of treating alcohol related problems .. 22.9 .. 21.8 .. 42.5 .. 77.8 .. 60.5(a) Support or strongly support.

Never drinker

Drinking status

Daily WeeklyLess than

weekly Ex-drinker

63

• In 2004, support for increasing the price of alcohol to reduce problems associated with excessive alcohol consumption was directly related to a person’s drinking status. Around one in every ten daily (12%) or weekly drinkers (7%) supported this measure compared to approximately half of all ex-drinkers (56%) and those who have never consumed alcohol (50%).

• Almost six in every ten (59%) ex-drinkers supported a reduction in trading hours for all pubs and clubs, compared to one in seven (14%) daily and weekly drinkers.

• Among daily drinkers, there was a significant decrease in the proportion of those who supported a restriction of late night trading of alcohol from 47% to 33%.

• There was a significant increase among ex-drinkers supporting the limiting of TV advertising of alcohol and banning alcohol sponsorship of sporting events from 79% to 89% and 65% to 78% respectively.

• Support for increasing the tax on alcohol to pay for education programs and the costs associated with treating alcohol related problems was directly related to drinking status, with around one in five daily and weekly drinkers (23% and 22% respectively) almost half (43%) of weekly drinkers and eight in ten (78%) ex-drinkers supporting such measures.

64

Marijuana Support for measures related to the use of marijuana were relatively similar regardless of sex, or geographic location (Table 63).

Table 63: Support(a) for measures related to the use of marijuana by sex and location, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2004

Measure 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

A clinical trial for people to use marijuana to treat medical conditions .. 70.9 .. 75.5 .. 74.2 .. 70.1 .. 73.1A change in legislation permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes .. 65.7 .. 69.6 .. 67.9 .. 66.7 .. 67.6(a) Support or strongly support.

Sex Location

(Per cent)

Males Females Capital city Rest of state Total

• In 2004, around seven in every ten (73%) Western Australians supported a clinical trial for people to use marijuana to treat medical conditions. Similar figures were reported regardless of sex or geographic location.

• Support for a change in legislation permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes was similar among males and females and among residents of Perth and other areas of the State, ranging from 66% to 70%.

In 2004, persons aged 14–19 years were the least likely to support measures related to marijuana use, while those aged 30–39 years were the most likely (Table 64).

Table 64: Support(a) for measures related to the use of marijuana by age, WA, 2004

Measure 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

A clinical trial for people to use marijuana to treat medical conditions .. 60.4 .. 72.4 .. 81.0 .. 72.9

A change in legislation permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes .. 55.8 .. 66.6 .. 74.7 .. 67.5(a) Support or strongly support. .. Not asked.

(Per cent)

Age group14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• In 2004, support for a clinical trial for people to use marijuana to treat medical conditions was highest among persons aged 30–39 years (81%) and lowest among those aged 14–19 years (60%).

• Support for a change in legislation permitting the use of marijuana for medical purposes was highest among those aged 30–39 years (75%) and lowest among those aged 14–19 years (56%).

65

Heroin Between 2001 and 2004, there was a general fall in support for measures to reduce problems associated with heroin use. For males, there were significant falls in support for regulated injecting rooms and for a trial of prescription heroin. Among females, there were significant falls in support for the majority of measures presented (Table 65).

Table 65: Support(a) for measures to reduce problems associated with heroin use, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Measure 2001 2004 2001 2004

Needle and syringe programs 56.9 55.7 62.8 57.5 #

Methadone maintenance programs 64.2 59.9 68.0 64.5Treatment with drugs other than methadone 65.4 59.8 70.8 62.0 #

Regulated injecting rooms 47.2 39.2 # 47.4 40.3 #

Trial of prescription heroin 37.1 28.6 # 35.9 24.3 #

Rapid detoxification therapy 76.4 75.7 82.6 75.2 #

Use of naltrexone 77.1 75.2 78.1 74.1(a) Support or strongly support.

(Per cent)

FemalesMales

• In 2004, needle and syringe programs were supported by more than half of all Western Australians aged 14 years and over (56% males, 58% females). However, support for such programs fell by 8% among females from 2001 to 2004. Support for regulated injecting rooms fell significantly from 47% for males and females in 2001, to 39% and 40% respectively in 2004. Between 2001 and 2004, support for a prescription heroin trial fell by 23% for males and 32% for females to 29% and 24% respectively.

66

Drug related harm Activities undertaken while under the influence of alcohol or other drugs Among current users of alcohol or other drugs, the activity most undertaken while under the influence was driving a motor vehicle (Table 66).

Table 66: Activities undertaken while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004

Influence or activity 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

AlcoholWent to work 8.3 8.6 3.4 1.6 # 5.9 5.1Went swimming 11.7 12.6 6.8 3.7 # 9.3 8.2Operated a boat 4.3 3.1 0.1 * 0.2 * 2.3 1.7Drove a motor vehicle 27.3 30.0 13.8 13.5 20.7 21.9Operated hazardous machinery 1.4 1.7 0.1 * 0.1 * 0.8 0.9Created a public disturbance or nuisance 5.1 5.5 3.1 1.3 # 4.1 3.4Caused damage to property 4.4 5.4 1.8 0.3* # 3.1 2.8Stole money, goods or property 1.7 1.2 0.5 0.2 * 1.1 0.7Verbally abused someone 9.4 9.0 7.1 4.2 # 8.3 6.6Physically abused someone 1.9 2.5 0.9 0.4 * 1.4 1.5

Illicit drugsWent to work 20.6 13.8 12.8 8.7 17.0 11.7Went swimming 18.9 13.7 11.3 6.7 15.4 10.9Operated a boat 7.0 4.2 0.4 * 0.2 * 4.0 2.5Drove a motor vehicle 36.6 28.8 23.9 20.1 30.8 25.2Operated hazardous machinery 4.6 4.6 0.3 * 0.9 * 2.7 3.1Created a public disturbance or nuisance 5.6 6.0 2.6 2.6 * 4.2 4.7Caused damage to property 5.5 5.2 3.3 0.2 * 4.5 3.2Stole money, goods or property 3.7 1.6 * 2.1 0.8 * 3.0 1.3 *Verbally abused someone 8.6 5.9 6.8 3.7 7.8 5.0Physically abused someone 2.0 – 1.1 * 0.9 * 1.6 0.4 *

(a) Current users: Alcohol - persons who have drunk alcohol in the past year; Illicit drugs - persons who have used any illicit drug in the past year.

Males Females Total

(Per cent)

• Males were more likely (30%) than females (14%) to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

• There have been significant decreases in many activities carried out by females while under the influence of alcohol between 2001 and 2004.

• Relative to the alcohol-related activities, the occurrence of selected activities while under the influence of illicit drugs was slightly higher.

• Males were more likely (29%) than females (20%) to drive a motor vehicle while under the influence of illicit drugs

67

Among current users, the age group with the highest proportion of males that drove a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol was 20–29 years of age. The age group with the highest proportion of males that drove under the influence of illicit drugs was 14–19 years (Table 67).

Table 67: Activities undertaken by WA males while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs by age, 2001 and 2004

Influence or activity 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004 2001 2004

AlcoholWent to work 10.3 15.5 19.0 15.5 8.8 11.7 3.9 3.8Went swimming 18.8 22.0 23.2 23.4 15.6 16.4 4.9 5.9Operated a boat 5.0 2.2 * 8.6 6.0 7.2 3.7 1.7 2.0Drove a motor vehicle 26.8 37.6 44.9 45.6 # 33.6 37.5 18.9 20.5Operated hazardous machinery 3.4 * 4.5 * 2.0 * 2.0 * 0.3 * 2.9* # 1.1 * 0.7 *Created a public disturbance or nuisance 23.4 23.2 20.9 16.8 6.7 0.9* # 3.3 0.3* #

Caused damage to property 24.7 20.5 8.5 16.5 0.3 * 1.0* # 0.1 * 0.6 *Stole money, goods or property 11.9 5.3 * 1.8 * 3.3 * 0.2 * 0.3 * – 0.1 *Verbally abused someone 23.4 28.1 20.9 20.6 6.7 8.6 # 3.3 2.0Physically abused someone 6.4 15.1 4.4 5.5 0.2 0.5 * 0.7 * 0.1 *

Illicit drugsWent to work 33.8 28.0 * 25.4 18.4 12.8 9.6 12.4 –Went swimming 20.3 11.7 * 27.3 16.7 14.7 18.1 11.0 3.1 *Operated a boat 5.8 – 9.0 6.0 * 6.9 5.8 * 5.4 1.0 *Drove a motor vehicle 35.4 42.2 53.5 33.4 28.7 29.8 22.5 7.9 *Operated hazardous machinery 6.1 11.7 * 8.1 1.0 * 0.7 9.0 2.9 –Created a public disturbance or nuisance 22.3 9.9 * 4.5 11.3 0.6 0.8 * – –Caused damage to property 25.5 7.1 * 2.4 1.8 * 0.6 5.2 * – –Stole money, goods or property 14.7 4.4 * 3.2 2.4 * 0.6 – – –Verbally abused someone 28.2 4.1 * 6.5 6.0 * 2.4 10.7 3.6 –Physically abused someone 9.1 – 1.2 * – – – – –


(Per cent)

Age group

14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• There was a significant increase in the proportion of males aged 20–29 years who drove while under the influence of alcohol from 45% in 2001 to 46% in 2004.

• The 20–29 year age group was also more likely to go to work, swim or operate a boat under the influence of alcohol while the 14–19 year age group was more likely to carry out the other activities under the influence of alcohol.

• The 14–19 year age group was also more likely to go to work, operate hazardous machinery, cause damage to property or steal under the influence of illicit drugs than the other age groups.

68

Among current users, the age group with the highest proportion of females who drove a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol was 20–29 years of age. The age group with the highest proportion of females that drove a motor vehicle under the influence of illicit drugs was 14–19 years (Table 68).

Table 68: Activities undertaken by WA females while under the influence of alcohol or illicit drugs by age, 2001 and 2004


AlcoholWent to work 7.9 4.0 * 9.9 2.6* # 2.1 1.8 * 1.1 * 0.7 *Went swimming 18.8 8.4 12.6 6.6 8.5 3.0 # 0.8 2.0Operated a boat 0.3 * 0.0 0.5 * 1.3 * – – – –Drove a motor vehicle 18.1 9.5 20.5 22.2 15.5 18.0 9.3 9.8Operated hazardous machinery 0.5 * – 0.4 * 0.5 * – – – –Created a public disturbance or nuisance 16.8 6.9 * 4.9 2.3 * 0.7 * 0.9 * 0.3 * 0.1 *Caused damage to property 12.1 1.1# * 1.8 0.8 * 0.4 * – – –Stole money, goods or property 4.1 1.2 * 0.4 * – – – – 0.1 *Verbally abused someone 20.7 12.4 14.3 8.5 4.2 2.7 2.1 1.6Physically abused someone 3.7 2.8 * 1.9 0.6 * 0.1 * – 0.2 * 0.0

Illicit drugsWent to work 13.9 28.0 14.8 18.4 13.3 9.6 * 7.1 0.0Went swimming 17.6 11.7 * 9.7 16.7 12.9 18.1 4.5 3.1 *Operated a boat 0.7 * – 0.8 * 6.0 * – 5.8 * – 1.0 *Drove a motor vehicle 16.2 42.2 # 29.1 33.4 33.9 29.8 9.6 7.9Operated hazardous machinery 0.8 * 11.7* # – 1.0 * 0.7 * 9.0* # – –Created a public disturbance or nuisance 7.9 9.9 * 2.2 * 11.3 # – 0.8 * – –Caused damage to property 12.6 9.9 * 1.5 * 8.2 # – 2.3 * – –Stole money, goods or property 9.1 4.4 * – 2.4 * – – – –Verbally abused someone 20.1 4.1 * 4.5 6.0 * 2.7 * 10.7 – –Physically abused someone 4.6 * – 0.3 * – – – – –


(Per cent)

Age group

14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• There was a significant increase in the proportion of females aged 14–19 years who drove while under the influence of illicit drugs, from 16% in 2001 to 42% in 2004.

• As well as driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of alcohol, the 20–29 year age group was also more likely to operate a boat or hazardous machinery, while the 14–19 year age group was more likely to carry out each of the other activities.

• As well as driving a motor vehicle, the 14–19 year age group was also more likely to go to work, operate hazardous machinery, cause damage to property or steal while under the influence of illicit drugs.

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Victims of drug-related harm Western Australians aged 14 years and over were more than twice as likely to be victims of alcohol-related incidents than of other drug-related incidents (Table 69).

Table 69: Victims of alcohol or other drug-related incidents by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004


AlcoholVerbal abuse 30.8 34.2 25.4 21.4 28.1 27.8Physical abuse 6.3 7.7 4.5 3.3 5.4 5.5Put in fear 11.9 8.8 17.6 15.4 14.8 12.1 #

Other drugsVerbal abuse 12.9 13.8 11.1 8.1 # 12.0 10.9Physical abuse 3.3 2.1 2.1 1.5 2.7 1.8Put in fear 7.9 5.7 10.8 8.0 # 9.4 6.9 #

Note: Base = all respondents.

Females Total

(Per cent)

Males

• Victims of alcohol-related incidents were mainly verbally abused (28%). Males were more likely to be verbally abused (34%) than females (21%).

• The proportion subjected to alcohol-related physical abuse was 6%. Males were more likely (8%) than females (3%) to be victims of alcohol-related physical abuse.

• Victims of incidents related to drugs other than alcohol were mainly verbally abused (11%). Males were more likely to be verbally abused (14%) than females (8%).

• The proportion subjected to other drug-related physical abuse was 1.8%. Males were more likely (2.1%) than females (1.5%) to be victims of other drug-related physical abuse.

• There was a significant decrease in victims put in fear from alcohol and other drug-related incidents between 2001 and 2004.

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In 2004, the 20–29 year age group had the highest proportion of verbal abuse due to alcohol-related incidents (44%) (Table 70). The youngest age group (14–19 years) had the highest proportion of victims verbally abused by persons influenced by drugs other than alcohol (18%).

Table 70: Victims of alcohol or other drug-related incidents by age, WA, 2001 and 2004


AlcoholVerbal abuse 35.5 38.1 45.9 43.8 32.0 31.1 18.5 19.2Physical abuse 9.5 19.5 10.1 9.7 6.0 4.3 * 2.6 1.4Put in fear 19.7 16.2 22.8 18.5 17.3 16.2 9.7 7.7

Other drugsVerbal abuse 17.1 18.0 17.3 14.1 11.1 11.7 9.2 8.1Physical abuse 6.0 6.4 4.2 3.2 1.4 0.7 1.9 0.7Put in fear 13.5 12.2 13.6 9.4 8.2 7.5 7.3 4.7

Note: Base = all respondents.

(Per cent)

Age group14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• The age group with the highest proportion of victims of physical abuse due to alcohol and other drug-related incidents were 14–19 years of age (alcohol 20%; other drugs 6%). This age group also had the highest proportion of victims put in fear by other drug related incidents (12%).

• The age group with the most victims that were put in fear due to alcohol-related incidents were 20–29 years of age (19%).

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Injuries resulting from drug-related physical abuse In 2004, 6% of Western Australians aged 14 years and over suffered an injury as a result of an alcohol or other drug incident (Table 71). Males were more likely to be injured than females. There was a significant decrease in injury for females between 2001 and 2004.

Table 71: Most serious physical injury sustained as a result of physical abuse from a person under the influence of alcohol or other drugs by sex, persons aged 14 years and over, WA, 2001 and 2004


Total physically abused(a)

Yes 7.0 7.7 5.5 3.3 # 6.3 5.5No 93.0 92.3 94.5 96.7 # 93.7 94.5

Most serious injury sustained(b)

Bruising/abrasions 42.1 37.3 44.0 52.1 42.9 41.7Burns, not requiring admission to hospital 0.4 2.7 * 0.4 – 0.4 * 1.9 *Minor lacerations 11.7 9.7 * 12.8 13.5 12.2 10.8Lacerations requiring suturing, not requiring admission to hospital 2.9 4.8 * 5.0 0.5 * 3.8 3.5 *Fractures not requiring admission to hospital 9.0 4.8 * 1.0 1.4 * 5.5 3.8 *Sufficiently serious to require admission to hospital at least overnight 3.3 5.6 * 3.0 3.3 * 3.2 4.9 *No physical injury sustained 30.7 35.1 33.7 29.1 32.0 33.3

(a) Base = all respondents.(b) Base = those who have been physically abused.

Males Females Total

(Per cent)

• In 2004, the most frequent serious injuries sustained as a result of physical abuse from a person under the influence of alcohol or other drugs were bruising and abrasions (42%). Females (52%) were more likely to sustain bruises or abrasions than males (37%).

• Minor lacerations were the second most frequent serious injuries (11%).

• Injuries sufficiently serious to require hospital admissions were very low.

• A third of the population did not sustain physical injury from drug-related physical abuse.

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In 2004, the youngest age group (14–19 years) had the highest percentage of people suffering an injury as a result of an alcohol or other drug incident (20%), with a significant increase since 2001 from 11% (Table 72). There has been a significant decrease in the 40 years and over age group between 2001 and 2004.

Table 72: Most serious physical injury sustained as a result of physical abuse from a person under the influence of alcohol or other drugs by age, WA, 2001 and 2004


Total physically abused(a)

Yes 10.8 19.5 # 11.3 9.7 6.2 4.3 3.4 1.4 #

No 89.2 80.5 # 88.7 90.3 93.8 95.7 96.6 98.6 #

Most serious injury sustained(b)

Bruising/abrasions 43.3 36.1 47.7 49.5 31.6 51.6 44.2 29.0Burns, not requiring admission to hospital 1.9 * 4.8 * – – – – – –Minor lacerations 11.6 * 9.4 * 9.0 14.1 * 26.2 9.1 * 7.3 * 9.0 *Lacerations requiring suturing, not requiring admission to hospital 1.1 * 0.4 * 5.8 * 8.8 * 1.8 * – 4.6 * 3.5 *Fractures not requiring admission to hospital – 7.7 * 5.5 * – 2.6 * – 11.8 * 5.1 *Sufficiently serious to require admission to hospital at least overnight 9.6 4.2 * – 8.5 * 6.5 * 3.3 – –No physical injury sustained 32.4 37.3 32.0 19.0 31.3 36.0 32.1 53.4

(a) Base = all respondents.(b) Base = those who have been physically abused.

(Per cent)

Age group

14–19 20–29 30–39 40+

• The most frequent injuries sustained as a result of physical abuse from a person under the influence of alcohol or other drugs were bruising and abrasions. Most victims were aged 30–39 years (52%). Injuries sufficiently serious to require hospital admissions were low for all age groups.

• For those that did not sustain any physical injury, most were aged 40 years and over (53%).

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Methods The 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey Sample The 2004 survey used the drop and collect, and computer-assisted telephone interview (CATI) methods to collect information from respondents and was conducted between June and November 2004. Overall, almost 30,000 Australians aged 12 years and older participated in the survey. Of these, a total of 2,938 persons were WA residents. For the purposes of this report, only those aged 14 years and over were included, with 2,906 persons falling into this category. The survey sample was based on households, thus homeless and institutionalised persons were excluded.

Design effect Where a survey sample cannot be considered a true ‘simple random sample’, consideration must be given to the ‘design effect’. This is the ratio of the variance of an estimate derived from the survey to the variance of an estimate of the same entity based on a true simple random sample of the same size. A design effect of 1.5 (2004) and 1.59 (2001) was employed in all standard error and confidence interval calculations.

Further information regarding methodological aspects of the 2004 NDSHS can be obtained from the following publications.

1) National Drug Strategy Household Survey 2004 technical report: May 2005.

2) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2005. 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: State and territory supplement. AIHW cat. no. PHE 61. Canberra: AIHW.

3) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2005. 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: First Results. AIHW cat. no. PHE 57. Canberra: AIHW (Drug Statistics Series No. 13).

4) Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: 2005. 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: Detailed Findings. AIHW cat. no. PHE 66. Canberra: AIHW (Drug Statistics Series No.16).

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Western Australian Health Areas

0 100 200

kilometers

North Metropolitan AHSNorth Metropolitan AHSNorth Metropolitan AHSNorth Metropolitan AHSNorth Metropolitan AHSNorth Metropolitan AHSNorth Metropolitan AHSNorth Metropolitan AHSNorth Metropolitan AHS

South Metropolitan AHSSouth Metropolitan AHSSouth Metropolitan AHSSouth Metropolitan AHSSouth Metropolitan AHSSouth Metropolitan AHSSouth Metropolitan AHSSouth Metropolitan AHSSouth Metropolitan AHS

WheatbeltWheatbeltWheatbeltWheatbeltWheatbeltWheatbeltWheatbeltWheatbeltWheatbelt

South West AHSSouth West AHSSouth West AHSSouth West AHSSouth West AHSSouth West AHSSouth West AHSSouth West AHSSouth West AHSGreat SouthernGreat SouthernGreat SouthernGreat SouthernGreat SouthernGreat SouthernGreat SouthernGreat SouthernGreat Southern

KimberleyKimberleyKimberleyKimberleyKimberleyKimberleyKimberleyKimberleyKimberley

Pilbara-GascoynePilbara-GascoynePilbara-GascoynePilbara-GascoynePilbara-GascoynePilbara-GascoynePilbara-GascoynePilbara-GascoynePilbara-Gascoyne

Midwest-MurchisonMidwest-MurchisonMidwest-MurchisonMidwest-MurchisonMidwest-MurchisonMidwest-MurchisonMidwest-MurchisonMidwest-MurchisonMidwest-Murchison

Goldfields-South EastGoldfields-South EastGoldfields-South EastGoldfields-South EastGoldfields-South EastGoldfields-South EastGoldfields-South EastGoldfields-South EastGoldfields-South East

Produced by: Epidemiology, Dept. of Health, WA.Date: 20 March 2006.

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Area based socioeconomic disadvantage As a measure of socioeconomic position, this report used a geographic measure known as the Index of Relative Socioeconomic Disadvantage (IRSD), developed by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

The Index of Relative Socio-Economic Disadvantage is derived from attributes such as low income, low educational attainment, high unemployment and jobs in relatively unskilled occupations.

IRSD quintile cut off scores Quintile 1 (least disadvantaged): ..................................................... 1080.89 and above

Quintile 2: ...................................................................................... 1042.33 to 1080.88

Quintile 3: ......................................................................................... 987.93 to 1042.32

Quintile 4: .......................................................................................... 942.89 to 987.92

Quintile 5 (Most disadvantaged):................................................................. 0 to 942.88

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References Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2005. 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: First Results. AIHW cat. no. PHE 57. Canberra: AIHW (Drug Statistics Series No. 13).

Australian Institute of Health and Welfare: 2005. 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: Detailed Findings. AIHW cat. no. PHE 66. Canberra: AIHW (Drug Statistics Series No.16).

Crouchley K.; Daly A. and Molster C. (2006). An overview of the health and wellbeing of young adults in Western Australia 2002–2005. Department of Health, Western Australia, January 2006.

Miller M, Draper G 2001. Statistics on drug use in Australia 2000. AIHW cat. no. PHE 30.Canberra: AIHW (Drug Statistics Series no. 8).

NHMRC. (2001). Australian alcohol guidelines: health risks and benefits. Canberra: NHMRC.

Unwin E, Codde JP, Bartu A (2003). The impact of tobacco smoking on the health of Western Australians. Epidemiology Occasional Paper 18, ISSN: 1329-7252. Drug and Alcohol Office and the Epidemiology Branch, Health Information Centre, Department of Health, Perth, Western Australia. 2003.

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Delivering a Healthy WA

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Documents

Western Australian Results · Draper G, Serafino S (2005). 2004 National Drug Strategy Household Survey: Western Australian Results. ISSN 1329-7252 Acknowledgements: From the Epidemiology