New data from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre (NDARC) reveals alarming trends in drug-related hospitalisations in Australia during 2022-23. The comprehensive analysis shows 51,413 drug-related hospitalisations occurred, representing a 4.6% increase from the previous year and highlighting the growing healthcare burden of substance use across the nation.

About the Research

The National Illicit Drug Indicators Project provides crucial epidemiological data on trends in drug-related harms as part of NDARC’s broader Drug Trends programme. This latest report presents the most recent and comprehensive data on drug-related hospitalisations in Australia recorded from 2003-04 to 2022-23, analysing trends by age, sex, jurisdiction, remoteness area, diagnosis and drug type.

The research addresses questions of significant public health importance by identifying trends in illicit drug-related harms and informing responsive policy development. The publication includes detailed reports, methodology descriptions, executive summaries, infographics, and comprehensive appendices containing rates and comparisons across multiple demographic categories.

Key Findings from 2022-23 Data

Gender and Age Demographics

Males and females show equal representation among substance-related hospital admissions, with each gender accounting for 50% of cases. However, age distribution reveals concerning patterns, with the highest percentage of admissions occurring amongst Australians aged 20-29 years (26%), followed closely by those aged 30-39 years (25%).

Intent and Circumstances

The data categorises hospitalisations by intent, revealing that intentional poisoning accounts for 75% of cases, whilst unintentional incidents represent 21% of admissions. Undetermined cases comprise 6.9% of drug-related hospitalisations in Australia recorded during this period.

Primary Substances Involved

Methamphetamine Dominates Admissions

Methamphetamine-related hospitalisations comprised 81% of all amphetamine-type stimulant admissions, representing the most significant contributor to substance-related hospital admissions. The data shows methamphetamine-related hospitalisations constituted 81% of all amphetamine-type stimulants hospitalisations.

Multiple Substance Categories

The analysis identifies several key substance categories:

• Amphetamine-type stimulants: 25% of admissions
• Antiepileptics, sedative-hypnotics: 16% of cases
• Non-opioid analgesics: 13% of hospitalisations
• Cannabinoids: 12% of admissions
• Opioids: 11% of cases

Opioid-Specific Trends

Within opioid-related admissions, natural and semi-synthetic opioids account for 55% of cases, followed by heroin at 20%, synthetic opioids at 14%, and methadone at 6.6%. Other and unspecified opioids represent 4.9% of opioid-related drug-related hospitalisations in Australia.

Geographic and Demographic Patterns

Regional Distribution

Major cities report the highest rates of opioid and cocaine-related hospitalisations, whilst inner regional areas show elevated rates of amphetamine-type stimulant hospitalisations. Cannabinoid-related admissions occur most frequently in remote and very remote areas, suggesting different substance use patterns across geographic locations.

Age-Specific Concerns

Young adults aged 20-39 years represent a particularly vulnerable demographic, with GHB-related hospitalisations increasing by 77% from 2021-22 to 2022-23. This age group accounts for 76% of GHB-related substance-related hospital admissions during the reporting period.

Mental Health Connections

The data reveals significant connections between substance use and mental health, with 39% of cases involving drug-induced psychotic disorders and dependence due to multiple substances. An additional 31% relate to other diagnoses, whilst mental and behavioural disorders due to substance use comprise the remaining cases.

Trends Over Time

Hospitalisation Rate Changes

The analysis shows varying trends across different substance categories from 2021-22 to 2022-23. Whilst total drug-related hospitalisations in Australia increased by 4.6%, individual substance categories demonstrated distinct patterns:

• Some substances showed declining admission rates
• Others exhibited significant increases
• Methamphetamine maintained its position as the dominant concern
• GHB-related admissions showed the most dramatic increase

Long-term Patterns

The twenty-year analysis from 2003-04 to 2022-23 reveals how substance-related hospital admissions have evolved over time. Each drug type exhibits distinct patterns of change, with most showing declining trends from 2021-22 to 2022-23, except for amphetamine-type stimulants which bucked this trend.

Public Health Implications

These findings underscore the continuing challenge drug-related hospitalisations in Australia present to the healthcare system. The data indicates that substance use disorders remain a significant public health concern requiring comprehensive intervention strategies.

The equal gender distribution suggests that prevention and treatment programmes must address the needs of both males and females effectively. Meanwhile, the concentration of cases amongst young adults highlights the importance of targeted interventions for this demographic.

The dominance of methamphetamine-related admissions indicates that specific attention to amphetamine-type stimulants remains crucial for reducing substance-related hospital admissions. Additionally, the geographic variations suggest that different regions may require tailored approaches based on local substance use patterns.

Moving Forward

The NDARC data provides essential evidence for policy development and resource allocation in addressing substance use disorders. Understanding these trends in drug-related hospitalisations in Australia enables healthcare systems, policymakers, and community organisations to develop more effective prevention and treatment strategies.

The continuing need for comprehensive data collection and analysis remains evident, as these trends inform evidence-based responses to substance use challenges across Australian communities.

Source: UNSW