West Australians biggest ice users in the country

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare found that 3.8 per cent of West Australians used methamphetamines, more than than in any other state or territory.

And people living in remote and very remote areas were twice as likely to use methamphetamines than people in non-remote areas.

The survey also found 5.6 per cent of West Australians misused pharmaceuticals, making them more likely to abuse such drugs than residents of other jurisdictions.

The findings are the result of a survey, which collected data from 24,000 people across Australia from July 31 to December 1 of last year.

Institute spokesman Geoff Neideck said West Australians, along with people from the Northern Territory, were more likely to binge drink than other Australians.

"Patterns of risky drinking varied across jurisdictions, for example, people in the Northern Territory and Western Australia were more likely to consume alcohol in quantities that placed them at risk of an alcohol-related disease, illness or injury," he said.

There are also links between smoking and excessive drinking, according to the survey.

"Half [49 per cent] of daily smokers had consumed alcohol at risky quantities," Mr Neideck said.

Risky consumption is classified by the institute as consuming an average of more than two standard drinks a day or more than four drinks on a single occasion at least once a month.

The study also found that people living in remote areas, outside city centres, were more likely to drink and smoke.

And people of certain social and ethnic groups smoke more.

"People in the lowest socioeconomic status groups, unemployed people and Indigenous Australians continue to be more likely to smoke daily than other population groups," Mr Neideck said.

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare is a national agency set up by the federal government to provide reliable, regular and relevant information and statistics on Australia's health and welfare.

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