Summary
Australia has among the highest cannabis use rates in the world, with 2.5 million people using it in the previous 12 months in 2022–2023 (AIHW 2024; UNODC 2022). Some people who use cannabis experience harms, including dependence, and may seek treatment for their use. This report draws together data from multiple sources to examine trends in cannabis availability, use, and treatment across Australia. This report describes the characteristics of people who use cannabis and treatment pathways for clients receiving specialised treatment for cannabis use. These data may help inform the design and delivery of effective harm reduction campaigns and treatment services.
Cannabis is readily available in Australia’s illegal drug market
Cannabis continues to dominate Australia’s illegal drug market, accounting for over 1 in 2 (52%) illegal drug seizures in 2020–21. Surveys of people who use illegal drugs show that the price and purity of cannabis has remained relatively stable, with both bush and hydroponic cannabis consistently reported as ‘easy’ or ‘very easy’ to obtain since 2010.
Recent cannabis use has remained stable, but varies by sociodemographic factors
In 2022–2023, 11% of people in Australia aged 14 and over had used cannabis in the previous 12 months, stable from 2019. Males were more likely than females to have recently used cannabis, but this gap has narrowed over time as fewer males and more females report using cannabis. Consistent with previous years, people aged under 30 and those living in regional and remote Australia were the most likely to use cannabis.
People who use cannabis are more likely than those who do not to experience mental illness or high levels of psychological distress
In 2022–2023, people who had recently used cannabis were more likely than those who had not to experience anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. They were also more likely to report high or very high levels of psychological distress. Concerningly, the proportion of cannabis users who experience anxiety has risen from 19% to 24% since 2019.
More people are using cannabis daily, but fewer are using it with other substances
Certain factors may increase the risk of a person experiencing harm from cannabis, including frequency of use and using other drugs at the same time. In 2022–2023, almost 1 in 5 people (18%) who had recently used cannabis did so daily, up from 14% in 2019. Conversely, there was a decrease in the proportion of people who reported using cannabis at the same time as alcohol, tobacco or other illicit drugs.
Some groups are more likely than others to report high risk use of cannabis
In 2022–2023, around 1 in 5 people (18%) who had recently used cannabis were identified as having moderate or high-risk cannabis use. High risk use disproportionately affected females, people aged 14–19, and those with a mental illness diagnosis or experiencing high or very high levels of psychological distress.
Around 221,000 clients received treatment for their own use of cannabis between 2013–14 and 2021–22
Most clients were male, aged 10–29, and resided in Major cities or Inner regional areas. Over 2 in 3 clients (71%) received treatment for cannabis only, while the remainder (29%) also received treatment for a different drug of concern. Around 605,000 treatment episodes were provided to these clients, most of which were provided to clients who sought treatment for cannabis and another principal drug of concern (67%).
Treatment pathways differed for clients who received treatment for cannabis only, compared with those who received treatment for cannabis and another drug
Among clients who received treatment for cannabis only, a typical treatment pathway for most clients involved one or 2 treatment episodes. For those who received treatment for cannabis and another drug of concern, common treatment pathways involved 2 treatment episodes for cannabis and either alcohol or amphetamines. Across both cohorts, most episodes ended as expected and many involved counselling as the main treatment type. Clients who received treatment for cannabis and another principal drug of concern followed many more unique treatment pathways than clients who received treatment for cannabis only.
Almost half of all clients who received treatment for cannabis received at least one diversion referral episode
Almost half (48%) of all clients received at least one diversion referral episode between 2013–14 and 2021–22. Among clients who received treatment for cannabis only, 2 in 5 (41%) client pathways involved either one or 2 diversion referral episodes and almost half (47%) of these clients were initially referred to treatment via diversion. The most common pathway for clients who received treatment for cannabis and another principal drug of concern involved 2 diversion referral episodes, but this pathway accounted for just 3.4% of clients. These clients were most commonly referred to treatment via self/family (31%) or a health service (24%) in their initial episode.