The Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS) has been conducted annually since 2000. The IDRS is a national drug monitoring system, designed to identify and track emerging trends of local and national concern in illicit drug use and markets. The IDRS forms part of the broader Drug Trends program.

The aim of this bulletin is to describe the proportion of people who regularly inject drugs recruited from Australian capital cities in 2025 who report experiencing chronic physical health conditions and/or disability. We identified patterns in their experience of these conditions, and their receipt of disability support through the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS).

Key findings

• In 2025, three fifths (58%) of participants reported at least one chronic physical health condition, most commonly asthma (42%), arthritis (30%) and lung conditions (22%). Around half (52%) reported living with disability, most commonly mental health disability (57%), physical disability (38%) and neurodivergence (13%).
• Among participants who reported at least one chronic physical health condition or disability, nearly half (46%) reported both. A further 31% reported one or more chronic physical health conditions but no disability, while 23% reported one or more disabilities but no chronic physical health condition.
• One quarter (27%) of participants reported two or more chronic physical health conditions. Among these participants, no single combination was common, with the most frequently reported combinations (asthma and arthritis, and asthma and lung conditions), each reported by 3% of participants. All other condition combinations were reported by 2% or fewer.
• Among participants living with disability, one in five (20%) reported ever receiving NDIS support (16% in the last six months and 4% more than six months ago). Among those who had received NDIS support, the most commonly reported disabilities were mental health-related disability (60%) and physical disability (35%), followed by neurodivergence (13%), brain injury (13%) and pain-related neurological disorder (4%).
• Among participants living with disability, 13% reported two or more types of disability.

Read the full bulletin

Discussion

In the Australian population in 2022, around half of people had at least one chronic physical health condition, while approximately one in five lived with disability, although measures may differ from those used in this study. In comparison, nearly three in five in this study had at least one chronic physical health condition and just over half identified as living with disability. Together, these findings indicate that chronic physical health conditions and disability were common and frequently co-occurring among people who regularly inject illicit drugs recruited from Australian capital cities. The substantial overlap observed indicates that chronic physical health conditions and disability are closely linked in this population, and highlights the increased and complex health burden carried by people who inject drugs.

Previous research has shown that people who inject illicit drugs often experience multiple chronic health conditions and complex health needs and that these findings are not unique to the Australian context (6). The diversity of condition and disability combinations observed in this analysis further highlights the complexity of health needs among people who inject drugs and suggests that these experiences are heterogeneous.

As the population of people who inject drugs continues to age and injecting histories lengthen, the experience of chronic and disabling conditions is likely to increase, placing growing demand on health and support services. However, the high level of complexity identified in this analysis contrasts with service systems that are often structured around single conditions or short-term care, potentially limiting their capacity to respond to intersecting health and functional needs.

While only one in five participants living with disability reported receiving NDIS support, national data indicate that the NDIS supports a minority of people with disability in Australia, reflecting its focus solely on individuals with specifically-designated permanent and significant disability. This does not include conditions such as neurodivergence and other neurological disabilities that can also create lasting impact on individuals and the health, justice, education and employment systems

Overall, this analysis provides insight into the intersection of chronic physical health conditions, disability and disability support among people who inject drugs in Australia. These findings highlight the need for service responses that better reflect the complex and long-term health and functional needs of this population.

Recommended citation

Uporova J, Sutherland R, Salom C, Peacock A. Chronic physical health conditions and disability among people who regularly inject illicit drugs in Australia, 2025. Drug Trends Bulletin Series. Sydney: National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre, UNSW Sydney; 2026. Available from: doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/32222

Funding and copyright

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

©NDARC, UNSW SYDNEY 2026 

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, UNSW Sydney, NSW 2052, Australia via drugtrends@unsw.edu.au.

Download this resource

• Chronic physical health conditions and disability among people who regularly inject illicit drugs in Australia, 2025

Contact