This report presents the most recent and in-depth data on drug-related hospitalisations in Australia, covering the period from 2002-03 to 2021-22. Findings are reported by age, sex, jurisdiction, remoteness area, diagnosis and drug type.

This publication includes:

1. Report: An overview of the 2021-22 data and trend analysis from 2002-03 to 2021-22.
2. Executive Summary: Summarising key findings.
3. Infographic: A visual summary of key findings.
4. Methods Document: Describing data specification and approaches to data analysis.
5. Appendix: Containing tables with rates in 2021-22 and comparisons with 2020-21, reported by age, sex, jurisdiction, remoteness area, intent, and drug type.

Our public online data visualisation allows viewers to disaggregate data in different ways and to download these images for their own use:

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

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 NDARC, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia.

Please contact the Drug Trends team with any queries regarding this publication: drugtrends@unsw.edu.au.

Chrzanowska, A, Man, N, Sutherland, R, Degenhardt, L, Peacock, A. Trends in drug-related hospitalisations in Australia, 2002-2022. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney; 2024. Available from: https://doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/30193

This report was prepared by researchers from the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre for the Drug Trends program. The Drug Trends program is coordinated by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney and undertaken in partnership with Burnet, National Drug Research Institute, University of Queensland, and the University of Tasmania.

The Drug Trends program is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care under the Drug and Alcohol Program.

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