National wastewater monitoring results show meth, heroin and cocaine use surging in SA

The latest national wastewater monitoring program results reveal the use of methamphetamine in SA has risen again — along with the use of cocaine and heroin.

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South Australian drug users’ insatiable appetite for methamphetamine is showing no signs of abating, as consumption in metropolitan Adelaide and regional areas is again increasing and remains among the highest in the nation.

The latest national wastewater drug monitoring program reveals locations in Adelaide and Perth have the highest metropolitan consumption levels, while regional SA and Victoria have the highest country consumption rates.

A huge Australian Federal Police crystal methamphetamine seizure involving foreign nationals … one SA regional site and one metropolitan site recorded more than double the national average consumption rates.

The results show one SA regional site and one metropolitan site recorded more than double the national average consumption rates.

Alarmingly, the quantity of methamphetamine consumed nationally has increased to an estimated 9.8 tonnes a year, compared with the previous estimate — only three months earlier — of 8.4 tonnes a year. SA’s share of that is likely to be more than a tonne.

Other drug use trends in SA the program revealed include:
COCAINE consumption increased in both metropolitan and country regions;
MDMA (ecstasy) use increased in both metropolitan and country regions;
FENTANYL consumption decreased in the metropolitan area but rose in regional areas; HEROIN consumption increased in metropolitan and country regions.

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission CEO Michael Phelan

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission CEO Michael Phelan said the wastewater data increased the understanding of drug consumption and drug use patterns across the states.

“Understanding local drug consumption patterns assists law enforcement, policy, regulatory and health agencies develop targeted supply, demand and harm-reduction strategies,” Mr Phelan said.

In August last year, the program monitored 13 licit and illicit substances at 58 wastewater sites nationally, covering 56 per cent of Australia’s population — about 13 million people.

Of the drugs measured, alcohol and nicotine continue to be the most consumed. Methamphetamine remains the most consumed illicit drug.

Alarmingly, the average consumption of most drugs monitored by the program increased between April and August 2018.

Using the data, it is estimated drug users are now consuming 9.6 tonnes of methamphetamine, four tonnes of cocaine, 1.1 tonnes of MDMA and 700kg of heroin annually.

Originally published as National wastewater monitoring results show meth, heroin and cocaine use surging in SA