Australians Take More Illicit Drugs, But British Are More Prone to Addiction

A new global study from the University of Adelaide found that while Australians are more likely to take illicit drugs like ecstasy, cannabis, and amphetamines, their British counterparts are more likely to develop alcohol addiction.

The study revealed that over the course of a year, 10.3% of Australians consumed cannabis, compared to the British who consumed only 5-7%. The study also found that nearly 3% of Australians consumed ecstasy and roughly 2% consumed amphetamines, whereas the British only consumed around 1% and 2%, respectively.

When it came to alcohol, the two nations were practically identical, with 84% of Australians indulging in alcohol and 83.9% of the British. The main difference, however, was that those in Britain were more likely to become addicted to alcohol.

“The report found alcohol and tobacco are the most common addictions in most countries and they are also the most harmful,” said associate professor Linda Gowing, the lead author of the report. “11% of deaths in males and 6% of deaths in females are linked to tobacco each year globally. Alcoholism is associated with a range of health issues and takes years off someone’s life.”

While the study didn’t note a cause for the increased rate of alcohol addiction in Britain, the study authors hope their work will aid policymakers around the world in creating new laws to help addicts overcome their vices.