Social issues in Australia, 1985

The main purpose of the survey was to obtain benchmark data on attitudes to drugs which would assist those involved in the National Campaign Against Drug Abuse Series to prepare and monitor a media campaign. Consequently, the survey focused particularly on the use of and attitudes of people to a list of legal and illegal drugs. The Social issues in Australia 1985 survey led to The National Campaign Against Drug Abuse, which was later followed by the National Drug Strategy Household Survey Series. Topics covered by the survey include: problems affecting the individual, their peers, and the Australian community; drugs thought to be a 'drug problem'; the seriousness of drug problems affecting the general community and the individual; penalties for marijuana use and possession; perceived levels of drug use; personal experience of and attitude to drug use; perceived knowledge about drugs; need for more information about drugs; attitudes to Government response to drugs; attitudes to drugs and drug use; alcohol and tobacco consumption. Background variables include: media use; household type; occupation and occupation status; education and education status; age; sex; marital status; country of birth; geographic location; who was present during the interview and the interviewer's assessment of the openness of the response to the questions.