Overview

Illicit use of drugs causes death and disability and is a risk factor for many diseases. It is also associated with risks to users' family and friends and to the community. Illicit use of drugs includes use of illegal drugs, misuse or non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs, or inappropriate use of other substances (such as inhalants).

More reports and statistics on illicit use of drugs can be found under Alcohol, Alcohol & other drug treatment services and Smoking.

Latest findings

Over the past 50 years, levels of apparent consumption of different alcoholic beverages changed substantially Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia People with mental health conditions are more likely to use tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who smoke has declined significantly Between 2016 and 2019, the proportion of ex-drinkers rose from 7.6% to 8.9%. The non-medical use of pharmaceutical drugs is an ongoing public health problem in Australia People who inject drugs experience considerably poorer health outcomes than other drug users In 2019, 43% of Australians had illicitly used a drug in their life and 16.4% had used one in the last 12 months. Australians are increasingly supportive of cannabis use and most support pill-testing. Smoking rates increase with socioeconomic disadvantage, but illicit drug use highest in the most advantaged areas. Smoking and drinking rates are down among gay, lesbian and bisexual people. Between 2016 and 2019, the proportion of people who had ever used e-cigarettes rose from 8.8% to 11.3%. In 2019, 11.0% of Australians smoked tobacco daily, down from 12.2% in 2016 and 24% in 1991. Non-medical pharmaceutical use is down, driven by a fall in use of pain-killers. There is a strong link between problematic alcohol or other drug use and experiences of homelessness Tobacco smoking is the leading cause of preventable burden in Australia

Featured reports

See all reports

Highlights

43% (9.0 million)of Australians aged 14 and over had illicitly used a drug in their life and 16% (3.4 million) had used one in the last 12 months
Use of any illicit drug increased among people in their 40s (from 12% to 16%) and 50s (from 6.7% to 13%) between 2001 and 2019
Illicit drug usein the previous 12 months has increased for cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, inhalants, hallucinogens and ketamine, between 2016 and 2019
1 in 10people aged 14 and over had been a victim of an illicit drug-related incident in the previous 12 months in 2019
Australian methamphetamine user outcomesBulletin prepared by the AIHW & AIC that examines the demographics of methamphetamine users & their employment, education & health outcomes
28%of drug treatment episodes in 2018-19 were for amphetamines, making it the second most commonly treated drug in Australia
1 in 25Australians aged 14 and over had misused pharmaceuticals in the last 12 months in 2019
4 in 10Australians perceived meth/amphetamines to be the drug of most serious concern to the general community in 2019