Analysis of wastewater shows Adelaide is the ice capital of Australia

ADELAIDE has earned the unenviable title as the nation’s ice capital following a surge in use of the dangerous drug.

Wastewater analysis shows

• Ice use in South Australia second-worst in nation
• Push for ice injection rooms in Adelaide
• Young country tradies biggest abusers of ice
• Abundance of methamphetamine in Adelaide
• Sewage analysis shows Adelaide’s ice usage at record high

ADELAIDE has earned the unenviable title as the nation’s ice capital following a surge in use of the dangerous drug.

A new analysis of the sewage of 14 million Australians found methylamphetamine — commonly known as meth or ice — consumption in regional South Australia was also on the rise.

It revealed ice use was the highest on record — up to about 80 doses per 1000 people a day — in areas of Adelaide where historical data dates to 2009.

The previous record of about 75 doses per 1000 people a day was reached in October last year. Rates had been declining since then until the spike detected during the testing at nine sites across South Australia in August this year.

Adelaide has earned the unenviable title as the nation’s ice capital following a surge in use of the dangerous drug.

However there were some encouraging decreases in ice abuse at some regional SA sites when comparing data from August last year with August this year.

The results will likely lead to calls for greater investment to tackle the scourge in the city as government interventions have tended to focus on rural areas which were more prone to problem use in other states.

South Australia also reported the highest average fentanyl consumption of capital cities and regional sites across the country. In a more positive trend, heroin use in Adelaide was recorded at its lowest levels since 2013, when consumption of the drug was first monitored, and use in SA was low compared with other states.

The latest wastewater drug monitoring report, to be released today, uses data from 54 wastewater sites across Australia covering 61 per cent of the population. Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan said the figures were crucial for law enforcement to maintain pressure on criminals who “trade in the misery of illicit drugs”.

“We will continue to use every resource available to protect the safety of our communities, families and frontline service workers who are affected by these insidious drugs,” Mr Keenan said