1. Presentation by Paul Dillon
Drug and Alcohol Research and Training Australia
Based on the report prepared by Victoria White and Tahlia Williams
Cancer Council Victoria
Australian secondary school students' use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014

2. 2014 ASSAD Survey
The 2014 Australian Secondary Students’ Alcohol and Drug survey - eleventh survey in a series that commenced in 1984 assessing use of tobacco and alcohol, and the sixth to include questions on the use of over-the-counter and illicit substances
Just over 23,000 secondary students aged between 12 and 17 years participated in the survey, in which they were asked about their lifetime and current use of tobacco, alcohol, analgesics, tranquilisers and illicit substances and related behaviour

3. Prevalence (%) of lifetime drug use (excluding tobacco, and alcohol) among 12-17 year old students
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

4. Prevalence (%) of never used drugs (excluding tobacco, and alcohol) among 12-17 year old students
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

5. Prevalence (%) of recent drug use (use in the past year) among 12-17 year old students
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

6. Prevalence (%) of no recent use drugs (not used in the past year) among 12-17 year old students
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

7. Prevalence (%) of lifetime drug use (excluding tobacco, and alcohol) among 17 year old students
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

8. Prevalence (%) of never used drugs (excluding tobacco, and alcohol) among 17 year old students
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

9. Prevalence (%) of lifetime drug use (excluding tobacco, and alcohol) among 16 year old students
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

10. Prevalence (%) of never used drugs (excluding tobacco, and alcohol) among 16 year old students
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

11. Prevalence (%) of last year drug use among 12-17 year old students, 1996-2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

12. Prevalence (%) of last year drug use among 12-17 year old students, 1996-2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

13. Tobacco
The proportions of 12- to 17-year-olds smoking in each time period in 2014 were significantly lower than the proportions found in 2011 and For instance, in 2014, five per cent of 12- to 17-year-olds were current smokers, which was significantly lower than the seven per cent found in both 2011 and 2008.
In 2014, 94% of 12-year-olds had no experience with smoking, which decreased
to 61% of 17-year-olds. Only 3% of all students had smoked more
than 100 cigarettes in their lifetime, with a peak of 10% among 17-year-old males
The proportions of 12- to 17-year-olds smoking in each time period in 2014 were significantly lower than the proportions found in 2011 and For instance, in 2014, 5% of 12- to 17-year-olds were current smokers, which was significantly lower than the seven per cent found in both 2011 and 2008

14. Never smoked tobacco, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

15. Smoked tobacco in past year, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

16. Smoked tobacco in past seven days (current smokers), Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

17. Smoked more than 100 cigarettes in lifetime, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

18. Committed smokers (3+ days in past seven days), Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

19. Trends in proportion of students aged years and years who had smoked in the past week,
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

20. Alcohol
In 2014, almost half of all Australian secondary students aged between 12 and 17 years had consumed alcohol in the year preceding the survey. Only 32% of students reported never drinking alcohol. The proportion of students who consumed alcohol in the week preceding the survey (current drinkers) increased with age, from four per cent of 12-year-olds to 36% of 17-year-olds. Nine per cent of 16-year-olds and 17% of 17-year-olds reported drinking five or more drinks on at least one of the past seven days. Overall, 35% of current drinkers indicated they usually drank premixed spirits and 21% usually consumed spirits that were not premixed. Around 29% of males usually drank beer compared to only five per cent of females. Parents were the most common source of alcohol for male (35%) and female (41%) current drinkers. Older current drinkers were more likely than younger current drinkers to get someone else to buy alcohol for them. Forty per cent of 16- and 17-year-old current drinkers consumed their last alcoholic drink at a party, compared to 26% of 12- to 15-year-old current drinkers. Younger students were more likely to consume their last alcoholic drink at home (40%), than older students (25%). The proportion of 12- to 17-year-old students drinking in the past seven days (current drinkers), past month and in their lifetime in 2014 was significantly lower than in 2011 and The proportion of younger students who were current drinkers in 2014 (8%) was significantly lower than in 2008 (17%) and 2011 (11%).
Students' alcohol use has changed considerably over the past three decades. For year-olds, the prevalence of current drinking declined during the 1980s only to start to increase again, peaking in Since that time, the proportion of year olds drinking has been decreasing and in 2014 was at its lowest point since the survey began
Almost half of all students had consumed alcohol in the year preceding the survey, 25% for the past month (down from 37% in 2011 and 29% in 2008) and 15% for the past week (17% in 2011 and 23% in 2008)
Premixed drinks are the choice of 35% of current drinkers with spirits popular with 21%. A third (29%) of all males drank beer compared with 5% of females. Alcoholic cider is the choice for 8% of current drinkers

21. Lifetime use of alcohol, Australian secondary school students (%), 1999-2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

22. Never consumed alcohol, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

23. Never consumed alcohol, Australian secondary school students (%), 2011-2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

24. Never consumed alcohol, Australian secondary school students (%), 1999-2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

25. Students who describe themselves as a 'non-drinker', Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

26. Students who describe themselves as a 'non-drinker', Australian secondary school students (%),
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

27. Students who consumed alcohol in past seven days (current drinkers), Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

28. Students who consumed alcohol in past seven days (current drinkers), Australian secondary school students (%),
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

29. Students who consumed alcohol in past month, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

30. Single occasion risky drinker (drank 5 or more drinks on one day in past seven days), Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

31. Average number of drinks consumed by current drinkers in past seven days, by age and gender, Australia, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014
Number of drinks

32. Current drinkers who drank 5 or more 4 drinks on one occasion in past seven days, by age and gender, Australia, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

33. Current drinkers and all students who drank 5 or more drinks on one occasion in past seven days, by age and gender, Australia, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

34. Current drinkers who drank 5 or more 4 drinks on one occasion in past seven days, by age and gender, Australia,
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

35. Drink types most commonly consumed by current drinkers (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

36. Changes in preference of drink types most commonly consumed by current drinkers (%), 2002-2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

37. Current drinkers who consumed their last alcoholic drink under adult supervision, Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

38. Current drinkers drinking at home, at a party or at a friends' house who consumed their last alcoholic drink under adult supervision (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

39. Average number of drinks consumed in the past seven days by current drinkers who drank their last drink at a party, by source of alcohol (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014
Number of drinks

40. Common sources of last alcoholic drink among current drinkers if they did not buy themselves, (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

41. Changes in most common sources of last alcoholic drink among current drinkers, 2002-2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

42. Common sources of alcohol among current drinkers who had someone else buy alcohol for them (%), by gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

43. Most common locations for consuming alcohol for current drinkers (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

44. Current drinkers indicating different frequencies of intending to get drunk when they drink alcohol (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

45. Main negative outcomes experienced by current drinkers after drinking alcohol in the past 12 months (%), 2014 (multiple responses allowed)
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

46. Proportion of year old current drinkers and proportion drinking more than 4 drinks on a single occasion in the past week,
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

47. Proportion of year old current drinkers and proportion drinking more than 4 drinks on a single occasion in the past week,
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

48. Self-description of drinking behaviour by age, Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

49. Self-description of drinking behaviour by age, Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

50. Analgesics
The use of substances such as Disprin, Panadol or Nurofen among students was extremely high - only 5% had never used these medications. Over two-thirds of all students had used analgesics in the past month
The main reason for analgesic use was to help ease the pain associated with a headache/migraine (52%). For the majority of students (90%) parents were the main source of analgesics
At all ages, females were significantly more likely to have used analgesics in
their lifetime, in the past year and past month

51. Ever used analgesics, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

52. Students using analgesics 10 times or more in past year, (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

53. Reason for most recent analgesic use by students using in the past year (%), by age, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

54. Cannabis
Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit substance, with 16% of students aged years ever using the drug at some time in their lives. The proportion of students using cannabis increased with age, with 4% of 12-year-olds and 31% of 17-year-olds reporting lifetime use
There were no significant differences in the proportion of students using cannabis in the past week, past month or lifetime between 2008 and 2014 or between 2011 and However, reported lifetime use continued to increase amongst the older age groups

55. Lifetime cannabis use, Australian secondary school students (%), 1996-2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

56. Ever used cannabis, Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

57. Used cannabis in the past year, Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

58. Used cannabis in the past week, Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

59. Used cannabis at least 10 times in the previous year, Australian secondary school students (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

60. Used cannabis at least 10 times in the previous year, Australian secondary school students (%),
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

61. Where cannabis is used by students who have used cannabis regularly or occasionally in past year (%), 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

62. Inhalants The question asked here is as follows:
"How many times, if ever, have you deliberately sniffed (inhaled) from spray cans or deliberately sniffed things like glue, pain, petrol or thinners in order to get high or for the way it makes you feel …"
Inhalant use was related to age – with use decreasing significantly from the youngest to the oldest students - around one-fifth (19%) of 12-year-old students to 10% to those aged 17 years

63. Ever used inhalants, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

64. Other illicit drugs
Use of illicit drugs, other than cannabis, was uncommon. For all drugs, however, the proportion of students using these substances increased with age
Ecstasy replaced hallucinogens (LSD, acid, trips, magic mushrooms, datura, angel's trumpet) as the second most commonly used illicit substance by students behind cannabis, with 3% of year-olds reporting lifetime use
While the proportion of year-olds using ecstasy in the past month in 2014 was significantly lower than in 2008 it was significantly higher than in 2011

65. Ever used hallucinogens, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

66. Ever used amphetamines, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

67. Ever used cocaine, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %

68. Ever used ecstasy, Australian secondary school students (%), by age and gender, 2014
White & Williams (2016) Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2014 %