91É«ÇéƬ

In 2023-24, Australia recorded 56,797 (excluding alcohol and tobacco) with a principal diagnosis. These hospitalisations accounted for 0.45% of all hospitalisations, averaging 156 hospitalisations per day.  

After several years of decline, drug-related hospitalisations increased in 2023-24. Compared with 2022-23, the number of hospitalisations rose by 10.5% and the age-standardised rate increased by 8.0%, to 216 hospitalisations per 100,000 people. This was the first statistically significant annual increase since 2015-16, although the rate was below that observed from 2016-17 to 2020-21. 

From 2022-23 to 2023-24, all-cause hospitalisations increased by 4.1%, indicating that drug-related hospitalisations grew faster than overall hospital activity.

^{Figure 1: Number and age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug-related hospitalisations among the total Australian population, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

Sex

Drug‑related hospitalisations were more common among males (52%) than females (47%). The increase in hospitalisation rate from 2022-23 to 2023-24 was greater among males (up by 14%) compared with females (2.1%), resulting in a widening gap between male and female hospitalisation rates.

^{Figure 2: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug-related hospitalisations in Australia by sex, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

Age

People aged 20-39 years accounted for the largest share of hospitalisations, with the highest rates observed among those aged 20-29 years (386 per 100,000 people). For the first time in the time series, however, the number of hospitalisations among people aged 30-39 years exceeded the number for those aged 20-29 (14,809 versus 14,600, respectively). Rates increased across nearly all adult age groups, with the largest rises occurring among those aged 40-49 and 50-59. In contrast, drug-related hospitalisations among young people aged 10-19 years declined from 2022-23 to 2023-24.

^{Figure 3: Crude rate per 100,000 people of drug-related hospitalisations among the female (A), male (B) and total (C) Australian population, by age group, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

Remoteness Area of Usual Residence

Although most hospitalisations occurred among residents of major cities (41,641 hospitalisations), the highest rates were recorded in remote and very remote areas (267 per 100,000 people) in 2023-24. Rates increased across all remoteness areas except outer regional areas from 2022-23 to 2023-24.

^{Figure 4: Rate per 100,000 people of drug-related hospitalisations among the Australian population, by remoteness, sex and age group, 2018-19 to 2023-24}

Socio-Economic Advantage and Disadvantage

Socioeconomically, the greatest proportion of drug-related hospitalisations (23%) occurred among residents in the most disadvantaged areas, although there were some differences by drug type.

^{Table 3: Percentage of hospitalisations by the index of relative socio-economic advantage and disadvantage quintiles by sex, age group, diagnosis and drug class, Australia, 2023-24}

Mental and Behavioural Disorders

Clinically, 59% of drug-related hospitalisations in 2023-24 had a principal diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorders due to substance use. Of these, drug-induced psychotic disorders (37%) and dependence syndrome (31%) were the most common diagnoses. Rates increased across all diagnosis types from 2022-23 to 2023-24.

^{Figure 5: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug-related hospitalisations among the female (A), male (B) and total (C) Australian population, by principal diagnosis of mental and behavioural disorder due to substance use, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

Drug Poisoning

Among poisoning-related hospitalisations (41% of all drug-related hospitalisations), intentional poisoning accounted for the majority of episodes (67%), while unintentional poisoning accounted for 23%. The rate of intentional poisonings declined from 2022-23 to 2023-24, while unintentional poisonings increased. Intentional poisonings continued to be more common among females and younger age groups (10-29 years).

^{Figure 6: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug-related hospitalisations among the female (A), male (B) and total (C) Australian population, by external cause of poisoning, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

Care Type

Most hospitalisations (60%) were classified as acute care, while in the remaining 40%, mental health was the main type of care provided. Antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic and antiparkinsonism drugs were the most common drug class recorded for acute care hospitalisations (23%), closely followed by amphetamine-type stimulants (21%). Amphetamine-type stimulants were the most common drug class among mental health care hospitalisations (42%).

Length of Stay

Nearly three-fifths (58%) of all drug-related hospitalisations were short one-day stays. Of these one-day stays, 61% were discharged on the same day. Extended stays of 15 days or more accounted for 6.7% of hospitalisations. Amphetamine-type stimulants were the most commonly involved drug class across all length-of-stay categories, with the highest proportion observed in long and extended-stay hospitalisations (5 or more days). 

Intensive Care Unit Admission

Admissions to intensive care units accounted for 6.1% of all drug‑related hospitalisations in 2023-24, with 94% of these ICU episodes involving drug poisoning.

Most Common Drugs

Patterns of harm differed across drug types. Amphetamine‑type stimulants remained the leading contributor, accounting for 29% of all drug‑related hospitalisations, followed by antiepileptic, sedative‑hypnotic and antiparkinsonism drugs (17%), cannabinoids (11%), non‑opioid analgesics (10%), and opioids (9.9%).

^{Figure 7: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of drug-related hospitalisations among the Australian population, by drug identified in the principal diagnosis, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

Amphetamine-Type Stimulants

The rate of amphetamine-type stimulant-related hospitalisations increased by 24% from 2022-23 to 2023-24, to 64 hospitalisations per 100,000 people. The largest increase was observed in remote and very remote areas, and rates among people aged 40-49 and 50-59 years reached record highs.  

Methamphetamine accounted for most amphetamine-type stimulant‑related hospitalisations (83%) and remained the most common drug type (53 hospitalisations per 100,000 people).

^{Figure 14: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of amphetamine-type stimulant-related hospitalisations among the total Australian population and for males and females, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

^{Figure 15: Crude rate per 100,000 people of amphetamine-type stimulant-related hospitalisations among the female (A), male (B) and total (C) Australian population, by age group, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

^{Figure 17: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of metamphetamine-related hospitalisations among the total Australian population and for males and females, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

Opioids

The rate of opioid-related hospitalisations has decreased since peaking in 2015-16 at 37 per 100,000 people, falling to its lowest level in two decades in 2022-23 (20 per 100,000 people). This long‑term decrease was driven largely by reductions in hospitalisations across all opioid classes but particularly heroin, natural, semi-synthetic and synthetic opioids. From 2022-23 to 2023-24 specifically, opioid‑related hospitalisations remained relatively stable despite the overall rise in drug‑related hospitalisations. The one exception was heroin, which recorded a 26% annual increase, although the rate remained below that observed in earlier years.

^{Figure 9: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of opioid-related hospitalisations among the total Australian population and for males and females, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

^{Figure 10: Crude rate per 100,000 people of opioid-related hospitalisations among the female (A), male (B) and total (C) Australian population, by age group, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

^{Figure 12: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of opioid poisoning-related hospitalisations among the Australian population, by opioid type, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

Cannabinoids

After peaking in 2020-21 and then declining for two consecutive years, the rate of cannabinoid-related hospitalisations remained stable from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (25 per 100,000 people in 2023-24). Stability at the national level masked declines among younger people aged 10-19 and 20-29 (particularly among males), and increases among older adults aged 30-69.

^{Figure 18: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of cannabinoid-related hospitalisations among the total Australian population and for males and females, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

^{Figure 19: Crude rate per 100,000 people of cannabinoid-related hospitalisations among the female (A), male (B) and total (C) Australian population, by age group, 2004-05 to 2023-24}

Cocaine

Cocaine‑related hospitalisations continued to rise and showed one of the largest year-on-year increases (29% growth compared to 2022-23). This increase was driven primarily by increased hospitalisations among males and younger people aged 10-29 years.

^{Figure 21: Age-standardised rate per 100,000 people of cocaine-related hospitalisations among the Australian population by sex (A) and crude rate per 100,000 people of cocaine-related hospitalisations among the Australian population by age group (B), 2004-05 to 2023-24}

GHB

The rate of hospitalisations related to GHB (and its precursors GBL and 1,4-BD) increased again in 2023-24, reaching a peak of 13 hospitalisations per 100,000 people – a result of a 59% rise from 8.3 hospitalisations per 100,000 people in 2022-23. Hospitalisations were fairly evenly distributed across males and females, and most (72%) occurred in individuals aged 20-39 years. 

The following jurisdictional summary reports provide an overview of drug-related hospitalisations in each Australian state and territory. Each report presents trends from 2004-05 to 2023-24, including patterns by age, sex, remoteness area, external cause of poisoning and drug type. Together, they highlight jurisdiction-specific patterns of drug-related harm and support comparisons across Australia.

Jurisdictional reports for the remaining states and territories will be published as the necessary approvals are received.

• Australian Capital Territory (ACT)
• New South Wales (NSW) - pending Data Custodian approval
• Northern Territory (NT) - pending Data Custodian approval
• Queensland (Qld)
• South Australia (SA) - pending Data Custodian approval
• Tasmania (Tas) - pending Data Custodian approval
• Victoria (Vic) - pending Data Custodian approval
• Western Australia (WA)

Chrzanowska, A, Man, N, Sutherland, R, Degenhardt, L, Peacock, A. Trends in drug-related hospitalisations in Australia, 2004-2024. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, 91É«ÇéƬ Sydney; 2026. Available from: 

We acknowledge the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and jurisdictional data custodians for the provision of data from the National Hospital Morbidity Database.

We acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands on which this work was undertaken. We pay our respects to Elders past and present, and extend that same respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We recognise their continuing connection to Country, culture and community.

Drug Trends is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Drug and Alcohol Program.

©NDARC, 91É«ÇéƬ SYDNEY 2026 

This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. All other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the information manager, NDARC, 91É«ÇéƬ Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia via drugtrends@unsw.edu.au.