Mental health and use of alcohol, tobacco, e–cigarettes and other drugs
Web article |
In the 2022–2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, there was an increase in the proportion of people aged 18 and over reporting high and very high levels of psychological distress (17%) and in the proportion receiving diagnoses and treatment for mental illness (18%), compared with 2019. While use of licit and illicit drugs remains high, the proportion of people smoking daily in both groups has declined since 2019.
This report explores the use of tobacco, alcohol and other drugs among people experiencing psychological distress, and those who have been diagnosed or treated for a mental health condition in the previous 12 months. While these two groups are explored separately, there is overlap between them, and comparisons between people experiencing psychological distress and people with a mental health condition should not be made directly.