In 1998 approximately one in five Australians (22 percent) aged 14 and over were current regular smokers, and approximately 40 percent were ex-smokers. This figure remained relatively stable between 1991 and 1998. Approximately 59 percent of males and 38 percent of females aged 14 years and over drank alcohol at least weekly in 1998, and an additional 25 percent of males and 39 percent of females drank less than weekly. Between 6 percent and 11 percent of the population had hazardous or harmful drinking patterns. Between 1991 and 1998, the number of people reporting regular or occasional drinking remained relatively constant. In 1998 slightly over 1,000 deaths were associated with illicit drug use. Approximately 23 percent of Australians reported using any illicit drug in the 12 months preceding the 1998 survey. Marijuana was the most common illicit drug used. Amphetamines had been recently used by approximately 4 percent of those aged 14 years and over, and 2 percent had used ecstasy/designer drugs; approximately 1 percent had used heroin, cocaine, or injected an illegal drug during the previous 12 months. Rates of marijuana use, as for most illicit drugs, increased over the past decade, although rates for other drugs were much lower than for marijuana. Of the top 10 prescription medicines prescribed in 1998, three affect the central nervous system. These three drugs accounted for 32 percent of the total number of prescriptions for the top 10 most often prescribed medicines. Regarding polydrug use, approximately one in three recent drinkers reported recent tobacco use, and one in five reported recent marijuana use. Drug use in Australia was compared with that in the United States, Canada, Great Britain, and the European Union. Data are also provided on drug use in special population groups and on drug law enforcement. 65 tables, 5 figures, 35 references, and appended sources of data in the European Union