Drug Addiction Problems in Australia

The Most Abused Drugs in Australia

Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug in Australia, followed by cocaine and ecstasy. The past few years have seen a decrease in illicit pharmaceutical use (e.g., opioids, painkillers, etc.), which contributed to 4.2% of all cases in 2019 (compared to 4.8% in 2016). There was also a decrease in amphetamine use, with 1.3% of Australians reporting using it in 2019. 

Cannabis

Cannabis remains Australia’s most commonly used drug, with approximately 11.6% of Aussies aged 14 and over admitting to using it in the past year (2019). And while marijuana is considered to be relatively harmless, it can lead to abuse and addiction. 

Some research also suggests a strong link between marijuana use and the development of mental health issues. Currently, marijuana remains a Class B drug in Australia, meaning it’s illegal to possess, use and sell. However, that doesn’t stop Australians from using it more frequently, with 37% of cannabis users in Australia admitting to using it weekly or more often.

If you start to notice you or your loved one shows signs of marijuana dependence, it’s best to seek professional marijuana addiction treatment immediately, as the symptoms of addiction worsen with time. 

Cocaine

Cocaine use in Australia has been continuously growing, reaching an all-time high of 4.2% in 2019. That’s a significant increase from 2.5% of cocaine users in 2016. Indeed, the growth of cocaine use in Australia has been a massive concern lately, with cocaine-related hospitalisations growing to 15.6 per 100,000 people. 

Cocaine is also highly addictive due to its high-stimulation properties. It can also have severe effects on one’s mental and physical health, which is why seeking cocaine treatment is essential the moment you notice the signs of dependence. 

Ecstasy

3% of Aussies have used ecstasy in the past 12 months (2019). That makes Australia the leading country when it comes to ecstasy use. Like many other drugs in Australia, ecstasy use has grown since 2016, rising from 2.2% to 3.0%. 

Furthermore, with the Australian Government approving ecstasy for treating particular mental health conditions, there’s a cause for concern that its illicit use will rise even higher. And while many underestimate its effect on mental health, repetitive ecstasy use can lead to brain-related issues, depression, and anxiety. 

It’s also highly addictive, which is why one must seek ecstasy addiction treatment immediately after noticing worrying dependence signs. 

Amphetamine

While the overall use of amphetamine and methamphetamine has decreased (from 1.4% in 2016 to 1.3% in 2019), abuse of crystal methamphetamine (also known as ice) continues to be a significant problem in Australia. In fact, the frequency of ice use among people using it has grown, leading to abuse and addiction. 

Indeed, despite the decreasing number of Aussies using amphetamines, they remain the leading cause of drug-related addiction treatment, with 24% of all treatment episodes being amphetamine-related. Many Aussies addicted to amphetamines seek professional amphetamine addiction treatment outside of Australia. The same applies to Australians looking for crystal meth (ice) addiction treatment. 

Heroin

Heroin abuse has always been a major concern in Australia. Unfortunately, it seems that this problem continues to become even more prevalent, with heroin-related hospitalisations in Australia doubling from 2008 to 2018, reaching an all-time high since 2001. 

According to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, there were 3,527 reported heroin-induced hospital admissions in 2018. The number of heroin-related deaths has also risen, with 604 Australians dying from heroin overdose between 2016 and 2017. 

What’s more, with 15,000 Australians admitting to having used heroin at some point in their life (a 50% increase from 2017), heroin remains a prevalent problem in Australia. Fortunately, there are numerous treatment options for heroin addicts, many of whom choose heroin addiction rehabilitation centres outside Australia. 

Pharmaceuticals

Although the use of pharmaceuticals for non-medical purposes is decreasing (a decline from 4.8% in 2016 to 4.2% in 2019), their abuse remains a major cause for concern in Australia. Using medications like opioids or benzodiazepines can lead to abuse, dependence, and overdose, which can often be fatal. Indeed, of all 1,644 drug-induced deaths in 2019, 62% were caused by prescription opioids. 

Benzodiazepine use has also been a significant problem in Australia, especially since the pandemic-related rise of anxiety issues. The issue here is that while highly addictive, it’s difficult to determine whether someone may have developed opioid or benzodiazepine addiction. 

If you start noticing worrying withdrawal symptoms, such as mood swings and headaches, however, it means it’s high time to seek prescription drug addiction treatment. Untreated, such pharmaceutical dependence can lead to overdose and even death. 

When to Seek Treatment?

Using drugs occasionally doesn’t make a person an addict. Indeed, while substance use rates remain high in Australia, approximately 1 in 20 substance users have an abuse or addiction problem. The question is, how to determine whether you might’ve developed a drug addiction?

Of course, each drug may have different dependence symptoms, but several common signs may indicate someone has developed a drug addiction. These include:

• using a drug regularly at increasing doses;
• trying to cut down on drug use without succeeding;
• experiencing strong withdrawal symptoms, such as irritation, mood swings, headaches, etc. (these will depend on the drug);
• experiencing constant cravings to use a drug;
• developing a tolerance for the underlying substance;
• putting drug use ahead of work, family, social life, and other responsibilities;
• giving up on social life and family activities to use drugs;
• continuing to use despite knowing you may be physically and mentally addicted to the substance.

If you notice any of the above symptoms, it means you might be addicted and require treatment. Leaving a substance dependence untreated can lead to severe consequences, resulting in changes in brain function, overdose, and even death. 

And whether it’s you or your loved one who has developed a drug addiction, the best way to go forward is to choose a top-quality rehabilitation centre, preferably outside Australia, as treatment outside the country can provide numerous benefits. 

Why Seek Professional Help?

Many addicts often opt for self-treatment. That’s mainly because treatment programmes in Australia tend to be very expensive. However, the problem is that unsupervised detox can be dangerous, especially if you experience strong withdrawal symptoms. In extreme instances, detoxing alone can even be life-threatening. 

That is why seeking professional help with your addiction is more than necessary. And if you’re looking for an option that’s both affordable and effective, choosing rehabilitation outside Australia might be your best shot. And when it comes to that, The Dawn should be your number one choice. 

In our Thai rehab and wellness centre, we specialise in all types of drug addiction disorders, ranging from cocaine, marijuana, amphetamine, heroin, ketamine, and prescription drug addiction. Our drug treatment programme includes a supervised drug detox, drug addiction therapy, and wellness therapy for drug addiction:

• Supervised drug detox. Our drug treatment begins with supervised drug detox, where our fully licensed medical team will monitor the entire process to ensure your safety and comfort. 

• Drug addiction therapy. The therapy process includes our intensive Twin Pillars treatment model, which combines individual and group therapy sessions that take advantage of multiple treatment methods, including cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) and mindfulness-based cognitive behavioural therapy (MCBT).
• Wellness therapy for drug addiction. To support your rehabilitation process, our treatment also involves a number of wellness therapies to help bring your mind and body back into balance. These include exercise, meditation, massage therapy, etc.