1. Introduction -- The National Drug Strategy -- Drug-related harm -- About the 1998 survey -- Comparisons with 1995 results -- 2. Overview - the status of drug use in 1998 -- Lifetime use of drugs -- Drugs recently used (in the last 12 months) -- Age of initiation - ever used -- Age of initiation - novice users -- Preferred drugs -- Drugs thought to be associated with a drug 'problem' -- Acceptability of drug use -- Support for the legalisation of illicit drugs -- Nominal distribution of a drugs budget -- Support for increased penalties for the sale or supply of illicit drugs -- 3. Consumption patterns -- Tobacco -- Alcohol -- Illicit drugs -- Sources of supply -- 4. Community support for drug-related policy -- Tobacco -- Alcohol -- Illicit drugs -- 5. Drug related activities -- Perpetrators of drug-related harm -- Victims of perceived drug-related harm -- Avoidance of passive smoking -- 6. Explanatory notes -- Scope -- Methodology -- Estimation procedures -- Reliability of estimates -- Definitions -- Comparability with 1995 survey.a
Summary
Presents data collected in Australia's most comprehensive national survey on drug issues. Key results on drug-related awareness, knowledge, attitudes and behaviours are compared to the results for other states and territories combined. Comparisons with the 1995 survey are featured and population estimates of the numbers of consumers of both licit and illicit substances are also provided. This report is part of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare's Drug Statistics Series. Future survey-related reports in the series will cover correlates of drug use and other state and territory comparisons. This report and others in the series will be useful resources for policy planners and researchers interested in drug-related matters
