ºÚÁÏÍø´óʼÇ

The National Illicit Drug Indicators Project provides epidemiological data on trends over time in drug-related harms and forms part of the broader Drug Trends program.

This output addresses research questions of significant public health importance in Australia by identifying trends in illicit drug-related harms and informing responsive policy development. presents the most recent and in-depth data on drug-related hospitalisations in Australia, covering the period from 2003-04 to 2022-23. Findings are reported by age, sex, jurisdiction, remoteness area, diagnosis and drug type.

This publication includes:

1. Report – An overview of the 2022-23 data and trend analysis from 2003-04 to 2022-23
2. Methods – Describing data specification and approaches to data analysis
3. Executive summary – A summary of key findings
4. Infographics – A visual summary of key findings
5. Appendix – Containing tables with rates in 2022-23 and comparisons with 2021-22, reported by age, sex, jurisdiction, remoteness area, intent, and drug type.

Our public , allows viewers to disaggregate data in different ways and to download these images for their own use.

Jurisdictional summary reports

For a summary of findings on trends in drug-related hospitalisations for each jurisdiction (including by age, sex, remoteness area, diagnosis and drug type), please see the full report or go to the jurisdictional summary reports:

• Australian Capital Territory
• New South Wales
• Northern Territory
• Queensland
• South Australia
• Tasmania
• Victoria
• Western Australia

Recommended citation

Chrzanowska, A, Man, N, Sutherland, R, Degenhardt, L, Peacock, A. Trends in drug-related hospitalisations in Australia, 2003-2023. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney; 2025. Available from:

Data source

We acknowledge the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare and jurisdictional data custodians for the provision of data from the National Hospital Morbidity Database.

Funding

Drug Trends is supported by funding from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing under the Drug and Alcohol Program.

Copyright

©NDARC, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç SYDNEY 2025 

This work is copyright. You may download, display, print and reproduce this material in unaltered form only (retaining this notice) for your personal, non-commercial use or use within your organisation. All other rights are reserved. Requests and enquiries concerning reproduction and rights should be addressed to the Information Manager, NDARC, ºÚÁÏÍø´óÊÂ¼Ç Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia, via drugtrends@unsw.edu.au. 

±õ³§³§±·:Ìý2982-0782

• NIDIP Hospitalisations 2003-2023 – Report
• NIDIP Hospitalisations 2003-2023 – Methods
• NIDIP Hospitalisations 2003-2023 – Executive summary
• NIDIP Hospitalisations 2003-2023 – Infographics
• NIDIP Hospitalisations 2003-2023 – Appendix