Statistical Data – Historical

There are a number of historical sources of statistical data concerning the use of alcohol and other drugs in Western Australia (WA). These are reproduced here for historical reasons and more recent data should be consulted to obtain an understanding of contemporary developments since the period covered.

A range of statistical reports and research studies were undertaken and supported initially by the WA Drug Data Collection Unit (WADDCU), which was established in 1988 as part of the arrangements established under the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse (NCADA) for cross-jurisdictional policy development, research, funding and reporting.

The concept of a coordinated approach to data collection and dissemination was continued in a number of departmental revisions to the arrangement established in 1995 in the Epidemiology Branch and subsequent policy and coordination structures.

A systematic approach was mounted in the latter part of the 1990s, initially based in the Epidemiology Branch of the Health Department of WA, to develop a more comprehensive understanding of the impact of alcohol and other drugs (AOD) on the community, through a number of approaches. One approach was to develop Statistical Bulletins to provide time series data.

Statistical Bulletins

Between the 1996 and 2008 a total of 42 statistical bulletins were produced by the WA Drug Data Collection Unit (WADDCU) (1988 – 1994), the Task Force on Drug Abuse (TDA) (1996 – 1997), the Western Australian Drug Abuse Strategy office (WADASO) (July 1997 – June 2002), and by the Drug and Alcohol Office (DAO) (July 2002 – May 2008), covering –

  • Sales of alcohol
  • Utilisation of sobering up centres
  • Utilisation of treatment services
  • Distribution of needles and syringes
  • Drug related phone calls
  • Drug-related mortality (opioids, amphetamines and illicit drugs)
  • Drug-related admissions for mental disorders
  • Drug charges and seizures
  • Alcohol and other drug prevalence surveys

Alcohol sales

  • Alcohol sales, Western Australia, 1967/1968–1997/1998 (May 2000) [149k]

Utilisation of sobering up centres

  • Utilisation of sobering up centres, Western Australia, 1990 – 1997 [140k]
  • Utilisation of sobering up centres, Western Australia, 1990 – 2000 [161k]
  • Utilisation of sobering up centres, Western Australia, 1990 – 2002 [784k]
  • Utilisation of sobering up centres, Western Australia, 1990 – 2003 [582k]
  • Utilisation of sobering up centres, Western Australia, 1990 – 2004 [780k]
  • Utilisation of sobering up centres, Western Australia, 1990 – 2005 [644k]
  • Utilisation of sobering up centres, Western Australia, 1990 – 2007 [659k]

Treatment services

  • Utilisation of treatment services, Western Australia, 1999 – 2004 [1.2MB]

Distribution of needles and syringes

  • Needles and syringes, Western Australia, 1995 [90k]
  • Distribution of needles and syringes, Western Australia, 1987 – 1997 [103k]
  • Distribution of needles and syringes, Western Australia, 1987 – 2000 [919k]
  • Distribution of needles and syringes, Western Australia, 1987 – 2002 [660k]
  • Distribution of needles and syringes, Western Australia, 1987 – 2003 [585k]
  • Distribution of needles and syringes, Western Australia, 1987 – 2004 [718k]
  • Distribution of needles and syringes, Western Australia, 1987 – 2005 [658k]
  • Distribution of needles and syringes, Western Australia, 1987 – 2006 [635k]

Drug-related telephone calls

  • Drug related telephone calls, Western Australia, 1986 – 2000 [161k]
  • Drug related telephone calls, Western Australia, 1986 – 2005 [650k]
  • Drug related telephone calls, Western Australia, 1986 – 2006 [684k]

Opioid-related mortality

  • Mortality caused by opioids, Western Australia, 1995 [74k]
  • Opioid deaths, Western Australia, 1996 [55k] 
  • Accidental heroin related deaths, Western Australia, 1997 – 1998 [85k]
  • Deaths caused by heroin and other illicit drugs, Western Australia, 1995 – 2001 [433k]
  • Confirmed deaths caused by opioids, Western Australia, 1995 – 2004 [474k]
  • Illicit drug related deaths: State (HRDs 1995 – 2006) & national (1988 – 2005) [561k]
  • Opioid related mortality, Western Australia 1995 – 2007 & Australia 1988 – 2005 [474k]

Other drug-related mortality

  • Illicit drug related deaths: Western Australia 1995 – 2006 & Australia 1988 – 2004 [568k]
  • Confirmed deaths caused by amphetamines, Western Australia, 1997 – 2004 [468k]

Drug-related mental disorders

  • Drug related psychiatric outpatient mental disorders due to the use of psychoactive drugs (excluding alcohol), Western Australia, 2000 – 2006 [1.0MB]
  • Drug related psychiatric inpatient mental disorders due to the use of psychoactive drugs (excluding alcohol), Western Australia, 2000 – 2006 [1.0MB]

Drug charges and seizures

  • Drug offences, Western Australia, 1998 – 1999 [136k]
  • Drug offences, Western Australia, 1998 – 2000 [105k]
  • Seizure of illicit drugs, Western Australia, 1998 – 2000 [616k]
  • Drug offences and seizures, Western Australia, 1998 – 2004 [438k]
  • Drug related offences and seizures, Western Australia, 1998 – 2005 [892k]
  • Drug-related convictions, Western Australia, 2002- 2006 [810k]
  • Drug related offences and seizures, Western Australia, 1998 – 2006 [907k]

Alcohol and other drug prevalence surveys

  • Illicit drug prevalence, Western Australia, 1995 – 2004 [669k]
  • Alcohol prevalence, Western Australia: 1995 – 2004 (June 2007) [67k]
  • West Australian results, Australian School Students’ Alcohol & Drug Survey, 2005 [483k]

Traffic fatalities

  • Drug related traffic fatalities in Western Australia [96k]