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.

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Latest findings

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug in Australia

The proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who smoke has declined significantly

There is a strong link between problematic alcohol or other drug use and experiences of homelessness

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%.

Between 2016 and 2019, the proportion of ex-drinkers rose from 7.6% to 8.9%.

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
78%of treatment episodes for amphetamines in 2020–21 reported methamphetamine as a principal drug of concern
1 in 10people aged 14 and over had been a victim of an illicit drug-related incident in the previous 12 months in 2019
Illicit drug use in the previous 12 monthshas increased for cannabis, cocaine, ecstasy, inhalants, hallucinogens and ketamine, between 2016 and 2019
24%of treatment episodes in 2020–21 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