Abstract This study provides a comprehensive literature review of the recent peer-review and journal articles pertaining to illegal drug use in South Africa. Potential articles pertaining to South African illicit drug use published between 1994 and April 2019 were identified through an exhaustive literature pursuit. Forty-two articles, which were thematically analyzed, identifying socio-cultural and socio-demographic factors associated with illegal drug use. The results show that adolescents, youths and being of black African race were the most population groups abusing illicit drugs in South Africa, women were the least population group disturbed by illegal drug use and that this behaviour declined with education among female learners. The review uncovered important factors associated with illegal drug use. These include the easy availability of drugs, weak parental control, violence and poverty and unemployment. In addition, there have not been many studies in other races and social classes. Furthermore, most of the studies reviewed were done in major cities like Cape Town and Johannesburg, which makes this research challenging to be generalized. This study recognized gaps in the literature reviewed and alluded to possibilities for future practical research. This study proposes the delivery of ‘evidence-based strategies’ which focuses more on the distribution of evidence-based approaches and policies that are designed to meet the clear needs of communities. In addition, South Africa should implement longitudinal research about drug user life histories. Keywords: Criminology, Illegal drug use, Literature review, Socio-demographic, Socio-cultural, South Africa.