Young people leading drug use reduction
Latest data from the National Drug Strategy Household Survey reveals that drug use in young people is on a steep downward trajectory. The 2019 report, released in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic last year, reveals that new drug use in young people has declined, along with smoking and the proportion of people drinking alcohol daily and weekly.
In 2001, the percentage of illicit drug use in a person’s lifetime was highest in people aged in their 20s (63%), and for people aged 14-19 it was 38%. The latest survey reveals these figures to have dropped considerably to 50% and 22% respectively. Furthermore, the mean age of initiation (to illicit drugs) has increased from 16.7 years in 2016 to 17.3 years in 2019.
Teen Challenge Tasmania director Tanya Cavanagh welcomed the survey results and said it was encouraging to see that drug and alcohol education was making a difference.
“As educators and support services, sometimes it’s easy to feel like we’re making no headway, however the 2019 National Drug Strategy Household Survey Report proves our hard work is paying off,” she said.
“There is generational change taking place in this space and our young people are leading the way.”
Perhaps one of the most surprising changes was in the rates of abstinence from alcohol use. In 2019, two in three (66%) 14-17 year olds chose to abstain from drinking, compared with 28% in 2001. Binge drinking declined from 57% in 2019 to 41% in 2019, and the mean age of initiation to alcohol use rose from 14.7 years to 16.2 years.
“There are still areas of concern, particularly around cannabis and e-cigarette use. Our job is not done yet,” Mrs Cavanagh said.
“With scientific evidence showing a correlation between drug use in adolescents and negative impacts on brain development/health and mental health, it is imperative we continue to fight for the brains and future potential and wellbeing of our young people. This report clearly shows that education works and is impacting generational change.”
Teen Challenge Tasmania’s NotEvenOnce projects have been shared to 54,417 students throughout Australia with a focus on early intervention, resilience building and demand reduction education, so that young people are completely informed to make good decisions about their future. Mrs Cavanagh said teachers, parents and students at each school where the NotEvenOnce program was introduced were grateful for the opportunity to address drug and alcohol use in a safe forum, based on current data and information.
“We look forward to continuing to partner with schools to impact generational change where drugs and alcohol are concerned, empowering young people to make positive life choices that protect their future,” she said.
“The figures tell us that the so-called ‘War on Drugs’ has not failed. Education is working, we just needed to allow time for the strong generational change to be measured and proved. I congratulate all the schools who have prioritised this important education, and I also applaud the young people who are leading the charge in drug use reduction.”
To Learn more about NotEvenOnce Projects Australia check out our website here
KEY STATISTICS
Methamphetamine use in Tasmania decreased from 2.1% in 2016 to 0.6%in 2019.
Smoking rates in young people dropped from 12.3% in 2001 to 0.07% in 2019.
The number of ex-drinkers has increased from 1.5 million in 2016 to 1.9 million Australians in 2019.
The proportion of people aged 18 and over abstaining from alcohol increased from 19.5% to 21% in 2019.
There was a decrease in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples drinking in excess of the recommended guidelines, from 28% down to 17.7%.
Use of e-cigarettes rose across most age groups. One in five (20%) non-smokers aged 18-24 reported having tried e-cigarettes. Among them, frequency of use increased with more people using them at least monthly (from 10.3% in 2016 to 17.9% in 2019).
Cocaine use in the previous 12 months rose from 2.5% of Australians in 2016 to 4.2% in 2019. Increases were across all age groups except 14-19 year olds, and was mainly driven by men.
Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit drug in 2019, with 11.6% of Australians using it in the last 12 months.
Source: National Drug Strategy Household Survey Report, 2019
www.aihw.gov.au/reports/illicit-use-of-drugs/national-drug-strategy-household-survey-2019