MDrug use ‘now in unknown territory’, national wastewater analysis finds

The corrosive influence of organised crime in Australia could be traced deep within the murky sewage systems beneath our feet, a new finds.

Both cocaine and meth consumption reached their highest rates since 2020.

Meth use in Australia sits second behind the US in an international comparison of narcotics gathered from an analysis of wastewater.

A new report of illicit drug use run by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission offers a snapshot of the country’s latest drug habits from December 2023 to February 2024.

The report found cocaine use was at a record high in Australia, while methamphetamine became more prevalent in regional areas than cities.

Both cocaine and meth consumption reached their highest rates since 2020, but the ACIC says the nation is on track to return to pre-Covid levels, when illicit substance use was at its peak.

Using urine and faeces samples from 56 wastewater treatment plants, the study found Australians consumed about 48 doses of meth per 1000 people between December 2023 and February this year, a substantial increase of eight doses since ­November last year.

The US had 89 doses of meth per capita, and Britain had less than one dose per 1000 people, though there were fewer data sources in those countries.

For cocaine, Australians consumed about 10 doses per 1000 people, an upswing from just six doses from November last year, despite major seizures taking place across the country.

ACIC principal adviser for drugs Shane Neilson warned the country was in “uncharted territory”, as the use of illicit drugs could return to pre-Covid levels.

“What we’re seeing is a return to pre-Covid levels of consumption for cocaine and methamphetamine, so perhaps over the next 12 months we’re really going to see where those markets go,” Mr Neilson said. “We may be in uncharted territory”.

He said the cocaine market was dependant on the level of detection and seizure, but the “determination” of organised crime groups was of great concern.

“Australian drug users pay premium prices in world terms, and no matter how much is seized and detected by the Australian Border Force and other agencies, there’s always drugs that get through the net,” he said.

This comes as Victorian health authorities issued an urgent warning after cocaine sold in Melbourne was found to contain a potentially deadly synthetic opioid.

They warned the opioid had been found being sold as cocaine in a white powder.

Alcohol and nicotine were the highest consumed drugs in all states and territories in December 2023, followed by cannabis and meth.

Meth use was highest in Victoria and regional Western Australia, and second in regional South Australia.

Cocaine use peaked in NSW and regional Queensland.

Heroin use was highest in Melbourne and regional Victoria while cannabis use was highest in Tasmania and the Northern Territory.

MDMA was most prevalent in Tasmania and in regional ­Victoria.