Ketamine capital: Where NT leads country in drug and alcohol use
New data reveals the Territory is hooked on drugs and alcohol, with the highest rates of use for several illicit substances in the country. See how we compare.
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The Territory has the highest rates of ketamine, nicotine, cannabis and alcohol use in the country, according to the latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program.
In comparison to other capital cities, Darwin ranked first in nicotine and ketamine use and second for ecstasy and alcohol, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission report revealed.
Regional Northern Territory topped the country in cannabis, nicotine and alcohol use, and was second for MDA consumption.
Use of meth had fallen in the Territory since 2019 but still remained a drug of choice, with more than 10 times the doses taken than heroin, cocaine or ecstasy.
The data shows Melbourne is the ecstasy capital city of Australia, Sydney is the cocaine and heroin capital and Adelaide is the meth capital.
Tasmanian residents took the most fentanyl and the ACT ranked first in oxycodone use.
In total, more than 14 tonnes of meth, cocaine, ecstasy and heroin was consumed in Australia in the year to August, with an estimated street value of $10bn – down 10 per cent from last year.
Acting ACIC chief executive Matt Rippon said it was “a concerning amount”.
“Both in terms of economic cost – the actual expenditure on drugs – and the cost to the community – through violence, road trauma, property crime, illness, injury and deaths associated with illicit drug use,” Mr Rippon said.
Between April and August 2022, national consumption of meth, cocaine, alcohol and nicotine decreased across both city and regional areas, while use of ecstasy, MDA, heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, cannabis and ketamine increased.
“The findings show methylamphetamine continues to be the most consumed illicit stimulant by some margin,” Mr Rippon said.
The ACIC found “record low” cocaine use across Australia, but attributes the drop to several massive drug busts that have taken place around the country in the past year, not because of decreased demand.
In the NT, rates of fentanyl use were almost twice as high in the regions than in Darwin, while heroin use was more than double in the city compared with the regional areas.
Cannabis use was more than a third higher in regional NT than in Darwin and had increased in the past two years.
The drug monitoring report is the 18th produced by the ACIC, covering about 57 per cent of the population by testing 58 wastewater plants around the country.
For free advice on drug and alcohol treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
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Originally published as Ketamine capital: Where NT leads country in drug and alcohol use
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