Illegal Drugs - Parent Booklet

4 how many people use illegal drugs in Australia ? It may be shown differently by the media, but the truth is that most young people have never tried an illegal drug. This is important because if young people think that most of their friends use drugs they might be more inclined to try drugs as well. number of young people aged 12 to 17 who used illegal drugs in the past year 1 cannabis 1 in 8 12.7% opiates ( e . g . heroin ) 1 in 100 1.0% ecstasy 1 in 50 2.0% hallucinogens 1 in 41 2.4% methamphetamine 1 in 45 2.2% cocaine 1 in 90 1.1% 1 Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing (2012). Australian secondary school students’ use of tobacco, alcohol, and over-the-counter and illicit substances in 2011. Centre for Behavioural Research in Cancer, Victoria.