Drugs in Qld: Ice use spikes during Covid while cocaine dips

Australians are now the second biggest ice users in the world with a 25 per cent spike reported in Queensland this year and fears of further increases once borders reopen.

Border restrictions may be responsible for a drop in Queenslanders’ cocaine and MDMA habits, but a bombshell drug report has revealed ice use is at a global high.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s study released on Thursday revealed Australians are the second biggest ice users in the world.

The 89-page report found that out of the 24 countries that monitor methylamphetamine use, only people in the United States used more ice on average than Australians.

Sewage testing from 11 sites across Queensland showed that methylamphetamine use had increased, but cocaine and MDMA had decreased between December 2020 and April 2021.

“The levels of cocaine consumption in regional areas in Queensland are the lowest since 2017 and the regional consumption of MDMA are the lowest since 2018,” the ACIC’s Shane Neilsen said.

Ice use increased from 55.6 doses per 1000 people per day in December to 75.9 doses in April across Queensland.

In the five months to April, cocaine consumption across Brisbane and regional areas dropped 11.6 doses per 1000 people per day down to 7.6 doses.

Ice use grew substantially - more than 25 per cent - in the same period, increasing from 55.6 doses per 1000 people per day in December to 75.9 doses in April across Queensland.

Mr Neilsen said Covid-19 border restrictions that have affected tourist areas, that typically see high use of the party drugs, could be driving down consumption rates.

“So we’re monitoring that quite closely once Queensland starts to open up in mid-December,” he said.

Mr Neilsen said since what became known as the “heroin drought” of the early 2000s, methylamphetamine had “dominated the illicit stimulant market in Australia”.

“It started out in powder form, then speed and then since 2013 the use of ice has increased significantly,” he said.

Methylamphetamine makes up at least 85 per cent of all stimulants used across Australia.

“Of all the major drugs it is the one that is both imported in its final form and domestically manufactured.”

ACIC data showed 30 per cent of methylamphetamine is manufactured domestically, with 70 per cent being imported, largely from China and Myanmar.

Methylamphetamine makes up at least 85 per cent of all stimulants used across Australia.