Changes in illicit, licit and stimulant designer drug use patterns in South-East Hungary between 2008 and 2015

•Biological samples of 2976 suspected drug users were analyzed between 2008–15.•Cannabis consumption decreased, the frequency of classical stimulants was constant.•Stimulant designer drugs (SDDs) reached the highest prevalence in 2012–13.•The percentage of multi-drug use was 30–43% until 2015 then increased to 52%.•Illicit drug and SDD consumption corresponded to their seizure rate.