2025 National Drug Strategy Household Survey
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) manages the National Drug Strategy Household Survey (NDSHS). This survey, first conducted in 1985, is Australia's largest survey on alcohol and other drug use and is administered every three years. The survey results inform policy and service delivery decisions to improve health and wellbeing for all Australians.
About the Survey | Completing the Survey | Privacy and Confidentiality | Prize Draw Information | Next Steps | Questions and Support | Translated FAQ
ABOUT THE SURVEY
What is the National Drug Strategy Household Survey?
The survey collects information asks Australians what they think about tobacco, alcohol and other drugs; and about their use of these drugs. The survey is part of the Australian Government’s National Drug Strategy, which aims to improve Australians’ health and wellbeing. Researchers and policymakers use the results to better understand the issues surrounding tobacco, alcohol and other drugs. The survey started in 1985 and is held every 3 years. The 2025 survey is the 15th in the series. This year, over 20,000 people aged 14 and over will take part in the survey. More information and a snapshot on results from the 2022-2023 survey can be downloaded via the 'Survey Snapshot' link below.
How was I chosen for the survey?
Your address was randomly chosen from a publicly available list of all Australian residences.
Why should I participate?
Everyone’s answers are important. We are looking for the views of all people regardless of whether they have ever consumed alcohol, smoked or used drugs. It is only by hearing from a mix of people across Australia that we can be certain the results represent the views and behaviours of everyone in Australia.
Do I have to complete the survey?
The survey is voluntary, but your participation is important so that we can obtain information from a cross-section of the population. The more people who complete the survey, the more useful the information will be.
Where can I find results from previous years of the survey?
Find comprehensive reports and statistics from the 2022-2023 period here. These reports include an overview of trends and changes related to substance use over the past 20 years. Additionally, the AIHW interactive webpage allows you to select a specific region and view detailed information on local attitudes towards tobacco, vaping products, alcohol, cannabis, and other illicit substances.
COMPLETING THE SURVEY
How do I complete the survey?
There are 3 ways to complete the survey: online, on paper, or by phone.
Online: Scan the QR code or enter the link on the letter, card or survey pack that was delivered to your address. We recommend that you complete the survey online, as this is the quickest and easiest way to complete.
On paper: All you need to do is fill in the paper questionnaire, place it in the replypaid envelope provided and put the envelope in the post.
By phone: If you would prefer to complete the survey over the phone, please call 1800 290 914.
Do I have to answer all the questions?
Answering the questions is voluntary, so you don't have to. However, we hope you will complete as much as possible, as this will give us the best possible picture.
How long will it take?
The survey usually takes 20–40 minutes to complete depending on your answers.
What happens to the information I provide?
The information you provide will be used for statistical purposes only. The information you provide will be combined with that of other participants in the Survey to form a summary view of health behaviours and attitudes across Australia.
Is the survey questionnaire available in other languages?
The online survey has been translated and is available in Mandarin, Arabic, Vietnamese, Cantonese, and Punjabi. The paper questionnaire is only available in English. If you wish to complete the paper form but cannot read English well enough to do so, you may ask someone you know to help you.
What happens if I have lost my reply-paid envelope?
If you have misplaced the reply-paid envelope provided to you by the interviewer, please wait for them to return to collect survey. If you are yet to complete the survey when an interviewer next visits, they can provide you with another envelope and you can mail the completed survey back at a convenient time.
Alternatively, please contact Ipsos via email at [email protected] or on 1800 290 914 and they will assist with having the survey returned.
What should I do if I'm not at home when the interviewer comes to collect my survey?
If you're not home when an interviewer returns to collect your survey, simply use the reply-paid envelope provided to send it back. Alternatively, if you’ve arranged for the survey to be left in a secure location for collection, the interviewer will pick it up from there.
PRIVACY AND CONFIDENTIALITY
Can I be identified as a respondent?
No. Your answers are put together with the answers from other people and are not linked to your address and are not released to anyone, including the police.
Any information provided in the Survey will remain anonymous. Ipsos and AIHW will not publish any identifying information about you. To find out more about the Ipsos Privacy Policy, click here.
How is my privacy protected?
The survey results are confidential, and strictly protected by law. Section 29 of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare Act 1987 prohibits the release of any information about individuals collected in the survey. No results or other data that could possibly identify individuals will be released.
The research complies with the Privacy Act 1988 and the information is only used for research purposes. This means that the information you provide cannot be used for activities that focus on individuals, like compliance or law enforcement.
The AIHW Ethics Committee has reviewed and approved the survey project.
PRIZE DRAW INFORMATION
What is the prize draw?
People who complete the survey have the chance to win 1 of 20 $500 e-Gift cards. This card lets you choose where you would like to use it, and you can spread the amount you spend over different stores.
What are the terms and conditions of the prize draw?
Open to Australian residents aged 14 years and over (If resident of SA, parental/guardian consent must be provided for a person under the age of 18 to enter the draw). Competition opens 16/06/2025 at 00:01 AEST and closes 31/03/2026 at 23:59 AEDT. Entrants may enter the competition by completing the survey provided by the Promoter (either a paper questionnaire or an online survey). Total prize pool is $10,000 consisting of 20 x $500 e-Gift Cards. Winners will be notified by phone or email (in writing) and published here on https://www.ipsos.com/en-au/ndshs from 15/09/2025 to 18/06/2026. The Promoter is Ipsos Public Affairs Pty Ltd (ABN 52 070 101 352) of Level 2, 51 Berry Street, North Sydney, NSW 2060. GiftPay are not participants in nor sponsor this promotion. Authorised under: ACT Permit No. TP 25/01174. SA Licence No. T25/884. Download full terms and conditions using the link below.
Previous National Drug Strategy Household Survey Prize Draw Winners
Prize Draws 1-5
Prize Draw 1 to be drawn at the premises of Ipsos Public Affairs Pty Ltd, Level 6, 11 Wilson Street, South Yarra, VIC 3141 08/09/2025 at 11:00 AEST.
NEXT STEPS
What happens after I receive my survey invitation?
Two postal letters will be mailed to each chosen household inviting them to complete the survey online, following this an interviewer will visit each household that is yet to complete the online survey and provide them with a paper version.
Email and SMS reminders will also be sent to participants to elect to participate but have not yet completed the survey.
An interviewer will then return to collect the paper survey from households that are yet to participate.
What does the AIHW do with the responses?
Results will be analysed by the AIHW and a report will be published on the AIHW website. Findings from the survey will be used by a range of stakeholders, including researchers and policymakers to help estimate prevalence and better understand the issues surrounding alcohol, tobacco and other drugs.
QUESTIONS AND SUPPORT
If you have questions, need help with the survey or do not wish to take part, please contact Ipsos via email at [email protected] or call the survey helpline on 1800 290 914.
If you would prefer to speak to someone from AIHW, a representative can be reached on 1800 443 510.
TRANSLATED FAQ
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