Damon Mcknight
The popularity of illicit drug use in Australia has been a significant issue since the 1960s. The problem has persisted and evolved over time, with various substances gaining popularity in different regions and demographic groups. The availability and use of illegal drugs have had notable impacts on Australian society, leading to health, legal, and social concerns. The Australian government and community organisations recognise the issue, with estimates placing the value of the illicit drug market at A$11.3 billion per year. This introduction aims to explore the most prevalent illegal drug in Australia, shedding light on the substance that has captured the highest level of consumption and attention within the country.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Most popular illegal drug | Cannabis |
| Second most popular illegal drug | Ecstasy |
| Most popular illegal drug in South Australia | Cannabis |
| Second most popular illegal drug in South Australia | Cocaine |
| Most common principal drug of concern for which treatment was sought in South Australia | Alcohol |
| Second most common principal drug of concern for which treatment was sought in South Australia | Amphetamines |
| Most common hallucinogen | LSD |
| Most commonly abused substances | Tobacco and alcohol |
| Most harmful way of using drugs | Injecting |
| Age group with the highest percentage of people who reported recent illicit drug use | 18-24 years |
| Age group most likely to have recently used an illegal drug | 20-29 years |
| Drug with the most seizures in 2011-2012 | Amphetamines |
| Drug with the second-most seizures in 2011-2012 | Cocaine |
| Drug with the third-most seizures in 2011-2012 | Steroids |
| Annual illegal market worth | A$6.7 billion (estimated in 2022) |
| Estimated figure for 2022 | A$11.3 billion per year |
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What You'll Learn
Cannabis is the most popular illegal drug in Australia
Illicit drug use in Australia has been a significant issue since the 1960s. The popularity of illegal substances in the country was influenced by shifting social and cultural norms, with many individuals seeking to explore altered states of consciousness. While various drugs have been popular over the years, cannabis stands out as the most prevalent illegal drug in Australia across all age groups.
Cannabis, also known as marijuana, is the most commonly used illicit substance in the country. In 2010, 35.4% of Australians aged 14 and older had used cannabis at some point in their lives, with recent use being highest among those aged 18 to 29. This trend is reflected in the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, which reported that 11.1% of South Australians had used cannabis in the previous 12 months, making it the most common illicit drug in the state.
The popularity of cannabis in Australia is not limited to adults, as it is also the most commonly used illegal substance among secondary school students aged 12 to 17. According to surveys, 14% of students in this age group stated they had used cannabis in their lifetime, with 12% reporting past-year use, 7% past-month use, and 4% past-week use. This highlights the accessibility and prevalence of cannabis among young people in Australia.
The use of cannabis in Australia has had notable impacts on society and public health. While the number of deaths directly attributed to illegal drugs is relatively low compared to alcohol and tobacco, the years of life lost due to drug-related deaths are significant. Additionally, drug misuse has been linked to various harms, including overdose, involvement in crime, community and family distress, and the transmission of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.
Despite the harms associated with cannabis use, there have been calls for a shift in the approach to illicit drugs in Australia. Evidence suggests that moving away from criminalization could reduce harm and is unlikely to increase drug use. The Queensland government has been recommended to enact a staged reform to legalize cannabis and decriminalize other drugs, but these suggestions have been rejected by the current administration.
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Cocaine and ecstasy are used more but less frequently
The most popular illegal drug in Australia is cannabis, with 11.1% of people in South Australia having used it in the last 12 months. This is followed by cocaine (4.1%), hallucinogens (2.1%), and ecstasy (1.3%). While cocaine and ecstasy were used by more people in the previous 12 months, most people used these drugs infrequently, with 58% of cocaine users and 59% of ecstasy users reporting that they only used the drug once or twice a year. In contrast, monthly or more frequent drug use was more common among cannabis users (51%) and methamphetamine/amphetamine users (37%).
The popularity of cannabis as the most commonly used illegal drug in Australia is consistent across different age groups, with the highest recent usage among people aged 18-29. This trend is also reflected among secondary school students, where cannabis was the most commonly used illegal substance. The use of cocaine and hallucinogens in South Australia has increased significantly since 2019, while the use of ecstasy has remained relatively stable.
Historically, the popularity of illicit drug use in Australia can be traced back to the 1960s, when shifting social and cultural norms created a youth culture eager to experiment with altered states of consciousness. Heroin gained immense popularity during the Vietnam War era, smuggled into the country through crime syndicates and CIA involvement. The Kings Cross area in Sydney became synonymous with drug use, retaining its reputation for vice even today.
While the majority of Australians who use illegal drugs do so for a relatively short period, the misuse of these substances can lead to significant harms. These include overdose-related deaths, involvement in crime, community and family distress, and the transmission of diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C. The impact of illicit drug use on years of life lost is substantial, contributing to 2.9% of the total burden of disease and injury in Australia in 2024.
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Amphetamine and methamphetamine use is increasing
The rate of drug-induced deaths related to methamphetamine and other stimulants has increased rapidly in recent years. The death rate in 2018 was four times higher than in 1999, and the preliminary death rate for all psychostimulants in 2023 was almost four times as high as in 2000. Amphetamines continue to be among the most common drugs of concern for which people receive treatment, accounting for 26% of treatment episodes in 2023-2024.
Amphetamine-type stimulants (including methamphetamine) are among the most common illicit drugs involved in hospitalisations. In 2022-2023, amphetamines and other stimulants accounted for 10% of drug-related hospitalisations, while cocaine accounted for an additional 0.7%. The rate of stimulant-related ambulance attendances was also higher for cocaine than for ecstasy across all age groups.
In South Australia, amphetamines were the second most common principal drug of concern for which treatment was sought in 2021-22, accounting for 31% of closed treatment episodes. This is a decrease from 2015-2016 when amphetamines were the most common principal drug of concern.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has reported an increase in the amount of amphetamine-type stimulants and crystal methamphetamine found at the border since the late 1990s. In 2011, 1,075 kilograms of amphetamine-type stimulants were detected, up from 71 kilograms in 1997. This increase in supply is reflected in the growing demand for drugs like methamphetamine in Australia since the start of 2000.
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Heroin was popular in the 1960s and 70s
Illicit drug use in Australia has been a significant issue for decades, with the country's annual illegal drug market estimated to be worth billions of dollars. Heroin, an opioid drug, has played a notable role in Australia's history of drug use, especially during the 1960s and 1970s.
Heroin's presence in Australia can be traced back to the 1960s, when its use emerged and gradually increased. The drug was initially introduced to the country by American troops stationed in major cities such as Melbourne and Sydney, who frequented the red-light districts during their recreational leave. The shifting cultural norms of the 1960s counterculture also contributed to a youth culture eager to experiment with drugs and explore altered states of consciousness. This period saw a rise in the availability and accessibility of heroin, which was smuggled into the country from Southeast Asia through crime syndicates.
During the Vietnam War era, heroin use became immensely popular in Australia. The withdrawal of troops from Southeast Asia left heroin syndicates seeking new markets, and Australia's proximity to production bases and extensive coastline made it an ideal target. The country's middle-class status and emerging youth movement further contributed to its vulnerability. As a result, heroin importation boomed, with small-scale purchases in Southeast Asia leading to increased availability in Australia.
The popularity of heroin in the 1960s and 1970s had a lasting impact on Australian society and culture. Literary works such as "Monkey Grip" by Helen Garner and "Candy: A Novel of Love and Addiction" by Luke Davies, published in the late 1970s and 1990s respectively, shed light on the lives of heroin addicts in Melbourne and Sydney during those decades. These novels became part of the "grunge lit" canon, reflecting the reality of drug use in Australia's urban areas.
However, the rise in heroin use during the 1960s and 1970s also had detrimental consequences. The rate of heroin-induced deaths began to climb from the 1960s onwards, eventually reaching a peak during the 1990s heroin epidemic. This epidemic was marked by a surge of new users and an increase in the drug's purity and accessibility. The epidemic brought widespread attention to the issue of heroin use in Australia, leading to various initiatives and policies aimed at addressing the problem.
Today, heroin use in Australia has declined since its peak in the 1990s, and it is now considered the fourth most common principal drug of concern. However, injecting heroin remains the most popular route of administration, and heroin-related deaths continue to contribute significantly to drug-induced fatalities in the country.
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Ketamine and hallucinogens are also used
In Australia, the most commonly used illicit drug is cannabis, with 2.5 million people having used it in the past year. However, ketamine and hallucinogens are also used by a significant number of people in the country.
Ketamine is a dissociative drug that causes people to feel separated or detached from their bodies or physical environment. It is used medically as an anaesthetic, sedative, and pain killer, and occasionally to treat depression. However, it is also used illegally for its hallucinogenic effects. In its illegal form, ketamine usually comes as a white or off-white powder but can also be made into pills or dissolved in a liquid. It can be swallowed, snorted, injected, or smoked with cannabis or tobacco. The effects of ketamine can be felt within one minute if injected, 5–15 minutes if snorted, and up to 30 minutes if swallowed, lasting for around an hour. However, an individual's coordination or senses may be affected for up to 24 hours after initial use.
According to the 2022–2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, 1.4% of Australians aged 14 and over (around 300,000 people) had used ketamine in their lifetime, with 0.9% having used it in the previous 12 months. Ketamine use was most common among people aged 20–29, with 4.2% of this age group having used it in the past year. Regular use of ketamine can lead to social, work, and financial problems, as well as physical health issues such as ketamine bladder syndrome and an increased risk of accidents. Quitting ketamine can be difficult, and support is available through various services in Australia, including the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline.
Hallucinogens, such as psilocybin/mushrooms and LSD/acid/tabs, have also seen increased use in Australia in recent years. In 2022–2023, 2.4% of people aged 14 and over (around 500,000 people) had used hallucinogens in their lifetime, with 1.5% having used them in the previous 12 months. As with ketamine, the use of hallucinogens was most prevalent among people aged 20–29, with 6.8% of this age group having used them in the past year.
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Frequently asked questions
Cannabis is the most popular illegal drug in Australia across all age groups. In 2010, 35.4% of people aged 14 or older in Australia had used cannabis in their lifetime.
Cocaine, ecstasy, ketamine, heroin, amphetamines, and hallucinogens are also commonly used.
Alcohol is the most common principal drug of concern, accounting for 41% of closed treatment episodes in 2021-22. This is followed by amphetamines (31%) and cannabis (15%).
In 2022-23, 17.9% of Australians had used an illicit drug in the last 12 months. This is a significant increase from 2019 (16.4%).
Substantial harms are related to the misuse of illegal drugs in Australia, including overdose-related death, involvement in crime, community and family distress, and the transmission of blood-borne diseases such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis C.
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