Non-Medical Use of Prescription Stimulants in Australia: Prevalence, Sociodemographic and Substance Use Correlates From the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey.

INTRODUCTION

Non-medical use of prescription stimulants is increasing globally, yet Australian population-level data on its prevalence and associated sociodemographic and substance use correlates remain limited.

METHODS

We analysed cross-sectional data from the 2022-2023 National Drug Strategy Household Survey (n = 21,663). Logistic regression models estimated associations between non-medical use of prescription stimulants and other substance use. Multinomial models compared risk profiles across four groups: no drug use; non-medical use of prescription stimulants only; illicit drug use only; and both.

RESULTS

Past-year non-medical use of prescription stimulants was reported by 1.8% of respondents and 5.2% reported lifetime use. Past-year non-medical use of prescription stimulants was strongly associated with past-year use of meth/amphetamine, non-medical cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy, but not with past-year cigarette smoking, non-medical use of opioids, vaping or risky alcohol consumption (p > 0.006). Compared with individuals who reported non-medical use of prescription stimulants only, those who reported both non-medical use of prescription stimulants and illicit substance use were younger and more likely to report current smoking and risky alcohol consumption.

DISCUSSION AND

CONCLUSIONS

Patterns mirror international evidence: non-medical use of prescription stimulants in Australia is concentrated within polysubstance use, particularly with other stimulants and cannabis, while a smaller non-medical use only subgroup shows fewer risk indicators. Non-medical use of prescription stimulants may serve as a marker for broader substance use and clinicians should screen accordingly. Future NDSHS surveillance should add items assessing prescription status, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder diagnosis and motives to better characterise exclusive non-medical use.