AbstractA general population sample of 5126 New Zealanders aged 15‐45 was surveyed in late 1990 to determine their use of alcohol, tobacco, cannabis, and other illicit drugs. The results show that alcohol and tobacco are the most commonly used drugs. Cannabis had been tried by 43% of the sample, and this level of use appears similar to that in Australia and the United States. Hallucinogens were the next most common illicit drug and had been tried by 8% of the sample. Again the New Zealand rates appear similar to those for the United States or Australia. Much lower levels of use were reported for stimulants, opiates, tranquillizers and solvents than for other illicit drugs. The New Zealand prevalence rates for these substances are lower than those in the United States. The rates for these other classes of drugs are more similar to Australia, but may be slightly lower for stimulants, tranquillizers and solvent