Health beliefs relating to alcohol and other drug use in the Australian population

This study uses data from a nationally representative population survey conducted in March and April 1993 to examine alcohol and other drug‐related health beliefs within the Australian population. The results show widespread ignorance about the causes of drug‐related mortality, with 43 percent of respondents believing that alcohol is the major cause of drug‐related premature death. Only 32 percent of the respondents mentioned tobacco as the major cause of death. Those who identified tobacco as the drug causing the greatest number of deaths were more likely to be male, young, Australian or British‐born, and better educated. Women were more accurate in their assessment of the risk levels associated with alcohol consumption than men, as were the young and the better educated. There is widespread public knowledge about the risks that are associated with passive smoking. Overall, the results point to the need to focus health promotion and awareness campaigns on the groups that have so far proved most immune to health messages, namely, heavy drinkers and smokers. [McAllister I. Health beliefs relating to alcohol and other drug use in the Australian population. Drug Alcohol Rev 1995; 14:187–199] 1995 Australasian Professional Society on Alcohol and other Drugs