Prevalence

There is currently limited statistical information available on the use of opioids by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Data from the National Opioid Pharmacotherapy Statistics Annual Data (NOPSAD) collection indicated that in 2023, around one in ten opioid pharmacotherapy clients identified as being an Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander person [42740].

In 2022-2023, recent use of painkillers and opioids for non-medical purposes was reported by 4.7% of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander respondents [35376]. In 2022-23, heroin was the fourth most common principal drug of concern for clients attending alcohol and other drug treatment services in Australia. Of those clients, 21% were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people [43453]. A 2021 illicit drug survey of 888 injecting drug users (23% of which were Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people) indicated that heroin was a drug of choice for around 40% of participants [44731].

Data from the 2018-19 National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Survey (NATSIHS) indicated that ‘other drugs’ (which included heroin, methadone, cocaine, petrol and other inhalants) were the second most commonly used illicit drug (5.9%) behind cannabis (24%). However, there was no information available about what proportion of the use of ‘other drugs’ was attributable to opioids. [39231]. In 2018, for illicit drug use risk factors, opioid use was the greatest contributor to disease burden for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people [44827].