This document summarises young people’s responses to Burnet’s ‘Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll’ survey in 2024. It includes data around:
- participant demographics
- sexual health
- STI notifications
- vaping and e-cigarettes
- alcohol and other drugs
- self-care activities.
1016 young people aged 15 to 29 completed the online survey in 2024.
Participant demographics
General demographics
- The average age was 22 years.
- 86% were born in Australia.
- 60% were currently studying at high school, university, or TAFE.
- 54% lived with their parent/s.
Gender identity
- 61% identified as a woman.
- 26% identified as a man.
- 13% identified as non-binary.
Sexual identity
- 42% identified as heterosexual.
- 28% identified as bisexual.
- 15% identified as queer.
- 12% identified as gay.
- 9% identified as pansexual.
Note: participants could select multiple options for sexual identity.
Sexual health
STIs and sexual health
We asked participants if they knew certain facts about STIs and sexual health. On average, participants knew 5 out of 8 of these facts.
- 82% knew that if left untreated, chlamydia can last for years.
- 79% knew that people infected with STIs do not always have symptoms.
- 63% knew that taking the pill when young does not reduce fertility.
- 71% knew that gonorrhea, syphilis, and chlamydia can all be treated with antibiotics.
- 51% knew that chlamydia can make women infertile.
- 58% knew that chlamydia can be diagnosed by a urine test.
- 90% knew that a healthy vagina contains bacteria.
- 94% knew that a healthy vagina would produce some discharge.
Vaginal health
We asked participants: ‘What are the most important aspects of vaginal health?’ The five most important aspects were:
- comfort
- bacterial balance
- odour/smell
- menstrual pain
- cleanliness.
STI notifications
This section includes the questions we asked around STI notifications followed by responses. These are hypothetical situations.
Would you notify a sexual partner if you had an STI?
- 91% yes.
- 1% no.
- 7% “It depends”.
How would you notify them?
A regular partner:
- 82% face-to-face.
- 47% phone call.
- 45% text message.
A casual partner:
- 67% text message.
- 37% phone call.
- 28% face-to-face.
Note: participants could select multiple options.
Would you want to be notified by a sexual partner if you were at risk of an STI?
- 98% yes.
- 1% no.
- 1% “it depends”.
How would you want to be notified? Note: participants could select multiple options.
A regular partner:
- 85% face-to-face.
- 54% phone call.
- 49% text message.
A casual partner:
- 75% text message.
- 49% phone call.
- 39% face-to-face.
Note: participants could select multiple options.
Vaping and e-cigarettes
- 59% of young people had used e-cigarettes.
- Almost two-thirds (65%) had seen advertisements for e-cigarettes.
We asked how easy it is to access e-cigarettes/vapes.
- On a scale from 0 (not easy) to 100 (easy), 78 was the average score.
Alcohol and other drugs
- 90% of participants had drunk alcohol in the past year.
- 66% had ever used recreational drugs (illicit or non-prescribed).
- 38% had used recreational drugs in the past month.
The most common recreational drugs participants have ever used are as follows (note: participants could select multiple options).
- Marijuana (60%).
- MDMA (26%).
- LSD (25%).
- Ketamine (23%).
- Cocaine (23%).
Self-care activities
We asked young people to share their favourite self-care activity. Responses included:
- hot shower or bath
- going for a long walk
- playing video games
- journalling
- knitting or crochetting
- lying in the sun
- masturbating
- yoga or pilates
- baking
- playing with pets
- making a cup of tea
- reading in bed.
More information
For questions about the survey or results, please email ana.orozco@burnet.edu.au.
If these results have raised any issues for you, we encourage you to use the following services:
About the Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll survey
Every year, Burnet surveys young people about their sexual health, drug use and wellbeing. The data is used to inform public health policies and programs.
The annual survey is called ‘Sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll’. It includes questions around:
- sexual behaviours
- alcohol and other drug use
- pornography use
- social media
- mental health
- emerging issues such as COVID-19.