15% of Australians used an illicit drug (including using a pharmaceutical drug for non-medical purposes) in the previous 12 months.

41.8% of Australians aged 14 years and over had used illicit drugs in their lifetime.

People aged 20-29 were more likely to have used illicit drugs than other age groups, with more than a quarter (27%) reporting illicit use of drugs in the previous 12 months. However, older people are increasingly using illicit drugs.

The most common drug used by people aged 14 years and over, both recently and over the lifetime, was cannabis.

People who use cannabis or meth/amphetamine were more likely to use these drugs on a regular basis, with most people using them at least every few months.

Ecstasy or cocaine were more likely to be used infrequently, with many people only using the drug once or twice a year.

Among people who had used an illicit drug in their lifetime, most people aged 14 years or older reported trying illicit drugs because they were curious to see what it was like (66%).

There was no increase in the proportion of Australians (aged 14 year or over) who use meth/amphetamine (including ice) in 2013 compared to the 2010. However, among the people who used these drugs there was a change in the main form used: Use of powder (speed) decreased significantly (50.6% in 2010 to 28.5% in 2013) Use of ice more than doubled (21.7% 2010 to 50.4% in 2013).

Among the people who use ice, the proportion of people who used at least once a week or more increased from 12.4% in 2010 to 25.3% in 2013.1 More Australians thought that meth/amphetamine was the illicit drug of most concern to the community (increasing significantly from 9.4% in 2010 to 16.1% 2013)

Population groups Older people Among Australians (aged 14 years or older), the largest increase in illicit use of drugs was in the 50+ age group. 11.1% of Australians aged 50–59 years used illicit drugs in 2013 compared to 8.8% in 2010. 6.4% of Australians aged 60+ years used illicit drugs in 2013 compared to 5.2% in 2011.

Socio-economic status People with the highest socio-economic status (SES) were more likely to consume alcohol in risky quantities and to have used ecstasy and cocaine in the previous 12 months than people with the lowest SES1. People with the lowest SES were twice as likely to abstain as people in the highest SES group1

Use of illicit drugs in the past 12 months was more prevalent among people who are unemployed. This group was 1.6 times more likely to use cannabis, 2.4 times more likely to use meth/amphetamines and 1.8 times more likely to use ecstasy than employed people.

People living in remote and very remote areas were twice as likely as people in major cities to smoke tobacco daily, drink alcohol in risky quantities, and use meth/amphetamines in the previous 12 months.

Homosexual and bisexual populations Use of illicit drugs in the last 12 months was more common among homosexual or bisexual people than heterosexual people. Homosexual/bisexual people were nearly 6 times more likely to use ecstasy than heterosexual people and over 4 times more likely to use meth/amphetamines (including ice).

People use drugs to relax, to function, for enjoyment, to be part of a group, out of curiosity or to avoid physical and/or psychological pain.

1 in 6 teenagers admit to taking prescription drugs to get high or change their mood.

One in 14 truck drivers pulled over on long weekend test positive for illicit drugs. Victoria Police 2015

Some truck drivers are selling drugs, including ice, to other truckies at stops across the country.

In 2012, 9.2% or the worlds 12 year old population were illicit drug users.

Headspace survey – 12-25 years (2014) 45% of males and 30% of females have taken drugs in the last 2 months.

Types of drug use These are some of the different categories of drug use. People can move between the categories, and one stage will not inevitably lead to another. Experimental use: a person tries a drug once or twice out of curiosity. Recreational use: a person chooses to use a drug for enjoyment, particularly to enhance a mood or social occasion. Situational use: a drug is used to cope with the demands of particular situations. Intensive use or 'bingeing': a person consumes a heavy amount of drugs over a short period of time, and/or uses continuously over a number of days or weeks. Dependent use: a person becomes dependent on a drug after prolonged or heavy use over time. They feel a need to take the drug consistently in order to feel normal or to avoid uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

The effects of any drug vary from person to person The effects of any drug vary from person to person. How a drug affects a person can depend on their size, weight and health, also whether the person is used to taking the drug, and whether other drugs are in their system at the same time.

Can drugs be safe. There is no safe level of drug use Can drugs be safe? There is no safe level of drug use. Use of any drug always carries some risk—even medications can produce unwanted side effects. It is important to be careful when taking any type of drug.

What to do in a crisis? Always call triple zero (000) if a drug overdose is known or suspected and remember that paramedics are not obliged to involve the police.