Smoking rates fall to historic low across Australia despite the rise of illicit tobacco

Smokers are increasingly using illicit tobacco, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s national drug survey has found. Photograph: Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

Daily smoking rates have fallen to a historic low and are tracking well ahead of national targets, while vaping rates have stabilised, according to the largest nationally representative survey on tobacco use.

But those who do smoke are increasingly using illicit tobacco, the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare’s (AIHW) National Drug Strategy Household Survey also found.