Territorians’ consumption of alcohol, nicotine, cannabis the highest in the nation: Report

BOOZING, smoking and using cannabis continue to be favourite pastimes of Territorians, according to the latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Report.

The latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Report found the Territory had the highest overall consumption of alcohol since the start of the program.

BOOZING, smoking and using cannabis continue to be favourite pastimes of Territorians, according to the latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Report.

The report tested water in December 2019 and compared data with August 2019, from a capital city site and a regional site.

Territorians consumed between 2200 and 2700 drinks per 1000 people, per day in both the capital city and regional site – resulting in the NT having the second-highest average capital city consumption, and highest regional consumption in the nation.

The report noted the Territory tended to have the highest overall use of alcohol since the start of the program, followed by Tasmania.

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Between 3800 and 4700 cigarettes were inhaled per 1000 people per day in both sites, making the Territory the leading consumer of nicotine in the country.

Territorians in regional areas used between 44,000mg and 55,000mg of cannabis per 1000 people per day, which was the highest regional average in Australia.

Average methylamphetamine, heroin and oxycodone consumption decreased in the capital city and regional sites.

MDMA, MDA and fentanyl use declined in the capital city site, but increased in regional NT.

There were some improvements compared with the last report, which showed use of methylamphetamine and fentanyl had increased in both sites.

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Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission chief executive Michael Phelan said the program gave valuable insight into the trends and issues of drug consumption in Australia. “Australians continue to consume illicit drugs at increasing levels and the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program is providing an important and consistent measure to guide and monitor drug responses,” he said.

“The program continues to evolve and demonstrate its flexibility.”