Increasing numbers of people aged over 40 are using illicit drugs, according to a report from the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare.

Between 2013 and last year, the proportion of people in their 40s who had used illicit drugs over the previous year increased from 14% to 16%.

Overall, the most common recently used drugs were cannabis (10% of respondents), misused pharmaceuticals (5%), cocaine (3%) and ecstasy (2%).

Recent use of methamphetamines fell, but the report shows a continuing trend towards “ice”. Last year 57% of methamphetamine users were mainly using ice, up from 22% in 2010.

While only 2% and 3% of ecstasy and cocaine users respectively used the drugs weekly or more often, the figure was 32% for ice users.

Methamphetamine has overtaken excessive alcohol use as the drug of most concern to Australians (40% of respondents).

Use of illicit drugs in younger people has fallen, the report shows, while fewer are smoking.

The proportion of teenagers who have never smoked grew from 95% in 2013 to 98% last year.

Australians who smoke daily fell from 24% in 1991 to 13% in 2013, but there was little change last year, at 12%. The proportion of people who have never smoked continued to rise – from 60% in 2013 to 62% last year.

Young people are taking up alcohol and smoking at a later age. In 1998 the average age for first trying alcohol and cigarettes was about 14, but last year it was 16.

The proportion of Australians drinking alcohol daily and weekly is falling, while less frequent drinking – less often than weekly – is becoming more common.

A smaller proportion of teenagers drink alcohol, down from 28% in 2013 to 18% last year.

The National Drug Strategy Household Survey includes information on nearly 24,000 Australians’ attitudes towards tobacco, alcohol and illicit drugs.