How many people use crystal methamphetamine?

Measuring crystal methamphetamine ('ice') use in the population is difficult and many people report higher rates in their communities than are reflected in general population surveys. The data we include here come from a number of sources, including population surveys, the National Wastewater Monitoring Program, hospital and other treatment centre data. What is clear from these data is that the impact of ice on many communities around Australia is significant. It is important to note that there are many reasons why people may use ice. 

Ice use in regional and remote communities

Data from several sources show that of methamphetamine use and related harms in regional and remote areas in Australia have fluctuated over time. In 2021-2022, data from the National Hospital Morbidity Database showed that those in outer regional areas were the most likely to receive hospital care for methamphetamine-related problems, followed by those in major cities. People in remote and very remote areas were less likely than those in major cities to be hospitalised. Notably, people in outer regional areas had the highest rates of hospitalization, while those in inner regional areas had the lowest.

A later report by NDARC (2024) showed that while methamphetamine-related hospitalisations were highest in outer-regional areas, they were closely followed by those in major cities. Overall, it appears that methamphetamine-related hospitalisations are declining across all regions. The 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey, indicated that rates of methamphetamine use were lower in major cities (1.1%) compared to regional areas (1.6%), and remote or very remote areas (2.1%). However, among those who had used in the past 12 months most were from major cities (71-78%). The latest data from the 2024 National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program Report also found that regional city consumption has recently overtaken major city consumption (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission). Further monitoring is needed. 

Ice use in different populations

There are also other groups of people in Australia who are more likely to use methamphetamine or more likely to experience harms related to methamphetamine compared to others. These groups include young people, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and lesbian, gay, bi-sexual, transgender, intersex and queer (LGBTIQ) communities.

Learn more about methamphetamine use and its impacts on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.

Access culturally appropriate resources for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

Is ice use increasing in Australia?

It is difficult to determine whether use (including ice) has increased in Australia. Data from the 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey suggest that overall recent rates of methamphetamine (including ice) use in the general population has declined over the previous 10 years.

Other data and hospital records indicate that rates of regular and methamphetamine use have increased. Additionally, the number of people who regularly use methamphetamines who report using crystal methamphetamine ('ice') as their main form of methamphetamine increased from 22 to 50% between 2010 and 2019,  before declining to 43.5% in 2022-23. Comparatively, reports of powder/speed use  decreased from 50 to 20% between 2010 and 2019, before rising to 31.1% in 2022-23. The number of individuals reporting smoking as the main route of has also increased (from 19 to 41%). Data from the Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS, 2023), nearly all who reported using methamphetamine reported using the crystal form (99%), followed by 10% using powder among people who inject drugs.

Taken together these data suggest that, among people who use methamphetamines, crystal is the most commonly used form of the drug.

From 2019 to 2022-23, among people who use methamphetamines regularly, there has been:

Source: 2022-23 National Drug Strategy Household Survey

Data from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program indicates that methamphetamine consumption increased in Australia from 2016 to 2019, before dropping in 2020. The latest report in July 2024 found that methamphetamine is once again rising, with consumption levels in capital cities hitting a record high at the end of 2023. However, it is unknown whether this increase was due to more people using the drug over time or a smaller number of people using larger amounts of the drug over time. It’s probable that the previous declines were due to the impacts of the COVID-19 virus and the associated restrictions. It should also be noted that alcohol, tobacco and cannabis are consistently the highest consumed drugs across Australia. Secondly, the estimated drug usage from this program was variable depending on the different sites tested.