Drug trends tracked
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A new report reveals rising non-prescribed stimulant use among Australians in 2024.
The National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) at UNSW Sydney has released the 2024 findings from its Drug Trends program.
The program’s Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS), which surveyed 740 regular users of ecstasy and other illicit stimulants from across Australia's capital cities, has revealed significant changes in substance use patterns this year.
One of the key findings is the marked increase in the use of non-prescribed pharmaceutical stimulants.
These include medications for conditions such as ADHD, like dexamphetamine and methylphenidate, as well as modafinil, used to treat narcolepsy.
The report shows that 54 per cent of participants reported recent non-prescribed use of these stimulants, the highest rate since monitoring began in 2003.
In comparison, 47 per cent reported such use in 2023 and 52 per cent in 2022.
“While most participants who reported non-prescribed pharmaceutical stimulant use reported swallowing these substances (94%), one-quarter (26%) reported snorting as a route of administration, a slight increase from 2023 (20%),” said Dr Rachel Sutherland, the lead of the Drug Trends program and Deputy Director of NDARC.
Dr Sutherland noted that snorting these substances raises concerns as it can cause physical harms, such as nasal damage, and potentially increase the risks due to faster absorption.
The report also highlights that the recent use of non-prescribed ketamine has remained steady, with 53 per cent of participants reporting use, a slight increase from 49 per cent in 2023.
This represents the highest rate since the beginning of monitoring.
“It is important to note that most participants who had used ketamine reported infrequent use, although approximately one in 10 reported weekly or more frequent use,” Dr Sutherland said.
Other significant findings include changes in the perceived availability of MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy.
Compared to 2023, more participants described MDMA as ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain in 2024.
Additionally, past six-month cocaine use remained high, with 80 per cent of respondents reporting use, indicating stable trends.
An encouraging trend was seen in the awareness of naloxone, a life-saving opioid overdose reversal medication.
Almost two-thirds (63 per cent) of participants were aware of naloxone, up from 57 per cent in 2023.
However, only 6 per cent of participants had obtained naloxone in the past year.
Dr Sutherland stressed the importance of increasing naloxone uptake, particularly as some stimulants, including cocaine and ketamine, have been found to contain opioids, contributing to severe overdoses in Australia.
The 2024 report also includes findings from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS), which involved a national sample of 884 people who regularly inject drugs.
Both the EDRS and IDRS reports provide critical insights into emerging drug use trends across Australia, according to NDARC Director Professor Michael Farrell.
“NDARC has coordinated the Drug Trends program since 1996 and its ongoing monitoring systems provide timely information for policy responses and intervention,” said Professor Farrell.
