Illicitly Traded Tobacco Use Among Samples of People Who Regularly Use Illegal Drugs in Australia, 2024–2025
6 affiliations
- 1National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney Sydney Australia
- 2School of Psychology, University of Tasmania Hobart Australia
- 3National Drug Research Institute and enAble Institute, Curtin University Perth Australia
- 4NHMRC Centre of Research Excellence on Achieving the Tobacco Endgame, School of Public Health, The University of Queensland Brisbane Australia
- 5Burnet Institute Melbourne Australia
- 6Institute for Social Science Research, University of Queensland Brisbane Australia
Abstract
Introduction: Australia's illicit tobacco trade poses major challenges, with evidence of increasing use. We examined: (i) use of illicitly traded tobacco (ITT) and reasons for use among two populations of people who use drugs in Australia; and (ii) factors associated with ITT use, versus exclusive licit tobacco use, in 2024 and 2025.
Methods: Cross‐sectional samples of people who regularly (i.e., ≥monthly) used illicit stimulants (Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS); n = 1430) or injected drugs (Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS); n = 1749) were recruited April–July in 2024 and 2025. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with past 6‐month ITT use.
Results: In both samples of people who use drugs, the proportion using ITT among those who had recently used tobacco increased between 2024 and 2025: from 38% to 65% (p < 0.001) among EDRS participants and from 54% to 73% (p < 0.001) among IDRS participants. In both years and populations, ITT was most commonly obtained from tobacconists, with price the primary reason for use. Among EDRS participants, males had higher odds of ITT use in both years; older age and recent e‐cigarette and nicotine‐pouch use were associated with ITT use in 2024 only. Among IDRS participants, age was associated with ITT use in both years, while psychological distress was associated with ITT use in 2024 only. Capital city of residence was associated with ITT use across both populations and years; in 2025, lower odds were observed in Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra versus Sydney.
Discussion and Conclusions: Increases in ITT use among these two populations of people who use illicit drugs are concerning. Efforts to restrict availability should prioritise supply‐side controls, alongside treatment and demand‐reduction strategies.
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BibTeX
@article{graham2026illicitly,
title = {{Illicitly Traded Tobacco Use Among Samples of People Who Regularly Use Illegal Drugs in Australia, 2024–2025}},
author = {Connor Graham and Syeda Ishra Azim and Amy Peacock and Cheneal Puljević and Coral Gartner and Paul Dietze and Raimondo Bruno and Caroline Salom and Michala Kowalski and Simon Lenton and Rachel Sutherland},
journal = {Drug and Alcohol Review},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1111/dar.70258},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.70258},
note = {CC BY-NC 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Illicitly Traded Tobacco Use Among Samples of People Who Regularly Use Illegal Drugs in Australia, 2024–2025
AU - Connor Graham
AU - Syeda Ishra Azim
AU - Amy Peacock
AU - Cheneal Puljević
AU - Coral Gartner
AU - Paul Dietze
AU - Raimondo Bruno
AU - Caroline Salom
AU - Michala Kowalski
AU - Simon Lenton
AU - Rachel Sutherland
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/27
JO - Drug and Alcohol Review
DO - 10.1111/dar.70258
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/dar.70258
AB - Introduction: Australia's illicit tobacco trade poses major challenges, with evidence of increasing use. We examined: (i) use of illicitly traded tobacco (ITT) and reasons for use among two populations of people who use drugs in Australia; and (ii) factors associated with ITT use, versus exclusive licit tobacco use, in 2024 and 2025. Methods: Cross‐sectional samples of people who regularly (i.e., ≥monthly) used illicit stimulants (Ecstasy and Related Drugs Reporting System (EDRS); n = 1430) or injected drugs (Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS); n = 1749) were recruited April–July in 2024 and 2025. Multivariable logistic regression identified factors associated with past 6‐month ITT use. Results: In both samples of people who use drugs, the proportion using ITT among those who had recently used tobacco increased between 2024 and 2025: from 38% to 65% (p < 0.001) among EDRS participants and from 54% to 73% (p < 0.001) among IDRS participants. In both years and populations, ITT was most commonly obtained from tobacconists, with price the primary reason for use. Among EDRS participants, males had higher odds of ITT use in both years; older age and recent e‐cigarette and nicotine‐pouch use were associated with ITT use in 2024 only. Among IDRS participants, age was associated with ITT use in both years, while psychological distress was associated with ITT use in 2024 only. Capital city of residence was associated with ITT use across both populations and years; in 2025, lower odds were observed in Perth, Adelaide, Hobart and Canberra versus Sydney. Discussion and Conclusions: Increases in ITT use among these two populations of people who use illicit drugs are concerning. Efforts to restrict availability should prioritise supply‐side controls, alongside treatment and demand‐reduction strategies.
SN - 0959-5236
SN - 1465-3362
ER -