Trends in alcohol, smoking, and drug use in cross-sectional samples of young people in Australia, 2015-24.

BACKGROUND

This study aims to examine trends in alcohol, smoking (including e-cigarettes), and other drug use, including trends in specific drug types, among young people aged 15–29 years in Australia between 2015 and 2024.

METHODS

Annual online cross-sectional surveys were conducted in convenience samples of young people in Australia between 2015 and 2024, with a total of 9988 participants. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine associations between year of survey and alcohol, smoking, and other drug use.

RESULTS

There was a decrease by year in the odds of reporting lifetime use of alcohol, past year use of alcohol, having had their first alcoholic drink while underage, and drinking more than 4 standard drinks on a typical day. Tobacco smoking decreased with year, but e-cigarette use increased. The drugs with the greatest increasing odds by year of reporting past month use were non-prescribed pharmaceutical stimulants and benzodiazepines. The drugs with odds indicating the greatest decrease in reporting by year were speed, crystal methamphetamine, and ecstasy.

CONCLUSIONS

Alcohol use largely trended downwards in our study, e-cigarette use trended up, and other drug use trends showed an increase in non-prescribed pharmaceutical drug use. Ongoing monitoring of the trends can inform public health policies and interventions.