The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare estimates that in 1998 there were over 3 million recent illicit drug users aged 14 years or older in Australia. The Australian School Students Alcohol and Drugs Survey found that:

Of all students aged 12-17 years, 39.9% (44.1% of males and 35.9% of females) reported having used at least one illicit drug in their lifetime;

Cannabis was the most widely used illicit drug, with 35.4% of all students having used cannabis;

Considerably fewer students used hallucinogens (8.6%), amphetamines (6.1%), cocaine (3.6%), ecstasy (3.6%), and steroids (1.8%)