Australia is facing a concerning rise in illicit drug consumption, with the 2024 wastewater analysis revealing the highest recorded illicit drug consumption figures, marking a 34% increase from 2023. Cocaine use alone rose by 69%, with some evidence that past year cocaine consumption amongst Queenslanders has increased more than four-fold over the last two decades. This coincides with an increase in drug driving, now the most common factor in fatal car crashes in Australia where risky behaviours are involved - more than drink driving, not wearing a seatbelt, or driving unlicensed. These recent findings highlight the failure of the National Drug Strategy to address some of the highest prevalence rates internationally in illicit drug use, and underscore an urgent need to rethink our harm minimisation and education responses. This project aims to improve our understanding of recreational "party" drug use amongst Australian adult. Using a mixed methods, lived-experience informed design was used, with in-depth interviews (n=20) and structured surveys (n=300) providing insights into drug using patterns including psychological and situational factors, as well as the current state of drug and legal literacy amongst users. Findings will inform law enforcement and public health awareness and educational campaigns, and provide an evidence-base for drug policy reform.