The declining rates of youth alcohol and tobacco consumption have long been celebrated as a public health triumph. But beneath this success story lies a troubling shift – young Australians are increasingly experimenting with other substances, often in ways that escape traditional detection.
Recent data from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s National Drug Strategy Household Survey (2022–2023) reveals that illicit drug use among 18–24-year-olds has reached 35%, with usage now equal between young men and women—a significant departure from historical patterns.
Tanya Cavanagh, Executive Director of Teen Challenge Tasmania, has spent more than a decade working directly with young people on substance use prevention. Her organisation, which has delivered evidence-based education to over 185,000 students, is witnessing firsthand how quickly the landscape is changing.
“Vaping and cannabis are becoming increasingly normalised, and many young people are grappling with anxiety, social disconnection and intense peer pressure,” Cavanagh explains.
One of the most striking developments is the convergence of drug use rates between young women and men. Where once young men dominated substance use statistics, young women are now using drugs at comparable levels—but often with less access to support networks and greater risks of hidden harm.
“This should be a wake-up call for schools, families and policymakers,” Cavanagh emphasises.
“Young women face unique vulnerabilities that aren’t always recognised or addressed in prevention efforts.”
Research published in 2023 by the Cancer Council, Generation Vape and the University of Sydney provides compelling evidence of vaping’s role as a gateway to smoking. The study, based on responses from over 5,100 teenagers aged 12–17 across Australia, found alarming connections:
Teenagers who had vaped were five times more likely to subsequently try smoking cigarettes.
Among 12-year-olds specifically, those who had experimented with vaping were 29 times more likely to start smoking compared to peers who had never vaped.
Critically, this research was conducted before Australia implemented stricter vaping regulations in 2024, suggesting the actual impact may be more severe than currently understood.
Teen Challenge Tasmania’s response has been to focus on education that resonates with young people. Through its NotEvenOnce Projects Australia platform, the organisation delivers brain-based drug education that emphasises how substances affect the still-developing adolescent brain.
An independent evaluation by Western Sydney University found the program positively influences young people’s intentions, knowledge, and values regarding substance use. Rather than relying on scare tactics, the approach helps students understand the tangible, long-term impacts on their physical and mental health—and consequently, their future opportunities.
“We need more youth-led, community-driven solutions,” Cavanagh argues. “Prevention can’t just be about providing information. It has to create a sense of purpose and belonging, and offer real pathways forward—because substance use often begins when young people feel like they don’t matter.”
The statistics paint a clear picture: while some traditional substance use patterns are declining, new threats are emerging rapidly. Vaping, cannabis normalisation, and equal-opportunity drug use across genders represent a fundamental shift in how young Australians engage with substances.
For Tasmania’s communities, schools and families the message is urgent.
Prevention strategies must evolve to meet young people where they are—addressing not just the substances themselves, but the underlying factors of anxiety, isolation, and disconnection that make experimentation appealing in the first place.
As Cavanagh notes, effective prevention isn’t simply about saying no. It’s about helping young people understand that they matter, that they have a future worth protecting, and that they belong to communities that support their wellbeing.
For more information about Teen Challenge Tasmania’s NotEvenOnce Projects Australia, contact Tanya Cavanagh through Teen Challenge Tasmania.
Tanya Cavanagh – Executive Director, Teen Challenge Tasmania
Tanya Cavanagh is the powerhouse behind Teen Challenge Tasmania, a youth-focused Christian organisation she co-founded to combat rising challenges like disadvantage, disconnection and substance harm.
As Executive Director, Tanya has grown the initiative from the ground up into a national leader in youth prevention and early intervention. Her evidence-based program, including one-on-one mentoring, brain-based cognitive training and hard-hitting drug education—have reached over 185,000 students across Australia.
Tanya is also a champion of youth-led social enterprise. Initiatives like Hope Café and Hope Costumes & Thrift Store provide young people with practical skills, employment pathways and renewed purpose.
With over a decade of frontline experience, Tanya brings deep insight and passion to the national conversation on youth wellbeing, policy reform and community-driven solutions.
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