The growing use of the drug ice is driving a surge in the number of Australians seeking treatment for amphetamine use.
New data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare shows a 175 per cent increase in the number of treatments that were delivered for amphetamine use over five years.
Overall the report revealed the number of people seeking treatment for drug and alcohol problems is continuing to rise.
In 2015-16, 134,000 Australians sought treatment, which is an 11 per cent jump on two years earlier.
While amphetamines are a growing problem, alcohol remains the most common drug people sought help for — making up 32 per cent of treatments.
The demographics are changing too, with more older Australians seeking treatment for drug problems.
The report found people over the age of 40 make up a third of those seeking assistance.
But younger Australians are still overrepresented, with people in their 20s accounting for a quarter of those looking for help.
Ice use leading the way
Matthew James from the Institute of Health and Welfare said the surge in amphetamine-related treatment was clearly linked to the growing profile of ice.
"It's related to the use of particular types of amphetamines, particularly ice," he said.
"The number seeking help that are smoking [or] inhaling, which tends to be what people do when they use ice, that's increased by a factor of four from 2011-12 to 2015-16.
"So I think that's partly what's driving that growth in the amphetamines."
In South Australia and Western Australia, amphetamine-related treatments have overtaken alcohol-related treatments.
However in Queensland cannabis is the main drug of concern.
