Adelaide no longer ‘ice capital’ as drug use increased across Australia while Covid-19 lockdowns eased

South Australian drug habits changed as Covid rules eased, new wastewater test results reveal.

Adelaide is no longer the nation’s ice capital – dipping to second behind Western Australia – while drug use across the country increases as the easing of Covid-19 restrictions opens up supply chains, new research shows.

Data from the ACIC National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, which releases its latest report on Thursday, shows consumption rates of methylamphetamine decreased across Adelaide and regional SA sites.

Adelaide had the second highest average capital city consumption of the illicit stimulant, behind Perth.

Methylamphetamine remains the most used illicit drug in the nation and Australia has the highest consumption per capita compared with 24 other countries who collect data, mostly across Europe.

The report also found drug use began rising late last year as Covid-19 border restrictions began to ease, allowing more movement between states and internationally.

The latest wastewater report compiles data from across the country including nine sewage sites in SA – four sites in Adelaide and five in regional areas – and analyses the levels of narcotics and drugs in sewage sites from testing in December 2021 and February this year.

Across Adelaide the report shows the average daily consumption rates of cocaine, fentanyl and ketamine were on the rise, while in regional SA the consumption of alcohol, cocaine, oxycodone and fentanyl increased.

The use of heroin – which peaked in SA during lockdown – decreased across Adelaide and regional SA, as did consumption of MDMA and ­cannabis.

The report notes the easing of Covid-19 restrictions late last year led to an increase in overall consumption of the illicit stimulants methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and MDA, across Australia but they were not yet at pre-Covid-19 levels.

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission chief executive Michael Phelan.

ACIC chief executive Michael Phelan APM said organised crime groups – the suppliers of illicit substances – profited from the importation, manufacture, trafficking and sale of the drug.

“Much of the harm that Australians suffer at the hands of organised crime is due to illicit drugs,” he said.

“Organised crime groups have redoubled their efforts to supply the major illicit drug markets as Covid-19 restrictions eased, generating significant illicit revenue.

“Our report helps address harmful drug consumption through improving knowledge about these influences so that tailored supply, demand and harm reduction efforts can be developed and implemented by decision makers on a range of drug and public health issues.”

Alcohol and nicotine use both decreased in Adelaide, but increased in regional SA.

The next report is due to be released in October.