Ice use: Bombshell report uncovers Australia’s drugs scourge

Australians are the second biggest ice users in the world, a bombshell report into global drug abuse has revealed.

Australians are the second biggest ice users in the world, according to a landmark new report.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s study, released on Thursday, has compared drug use across the globe.

The bombshell 89-page report found only people in the United States used more ice on average than Australians.

There were 51 hits of the drug per day for every 1000 people in the US, while Australians used 48 hits per day for every 1000 people in April 2020.

That use dipped in April this year to 41 doses per day for every 1000 people in Australia, but it was still above the next worst, the Czech Republic, then closely followed by New Zealand.

The ACIC described methylamphetamine, or ice use, as a “wicked problem” because it was both imported by organised crime from overseas and made here.

Australia was ranked seventh in the world for ecstasy and cannabis abuse, and came in 16th for cocaine consumption.

The data was collated by comparing toilet wastewater detections in Australia with similar studies across the globe under the Sewage Core Group Europe, or Score measure.

The study group, which compares 24 countries, also includes North America, South Africa and Australia.

Michael Phelan, chief executive at the ACIC, said the results gave a snapshot of the scourge of drugs in Australia.

“Much of the harm that Australians suffer at the hands of organised crime is due to illicit drugs,” he said.

“Serious and organised crime groups profit from the importation, manufacture, trafficking and sale of drugs that cause harm to the community.”

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission chief executive Michael Phelan has warned of Australia’s ice scourge.

The data also provides crucial clues on areas of high use, which may also be linked local drug cook operations.

“Law enforcement agencies can commence some investigations in the knowledge that the impact on local drug consumption can be measured by wastewater analysis, government and health agencies can effectively allocate resources to priority areas, and the public can be informed of the level of harm caused,” Mr Phelan said.

Australians pay top dollar for drugs, with the wholesale price of cocaine hitting up to $320,000 per kilogram in recent months following Operation Ironside.

Ice seized in a raid in NSW. Picture: NSW Police

The latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program Report 14 does not cover the period after that sting, where the AFP and FBI captured more than 28 million messages on the encrypted AN0M app.

That bust, which led to hundreds of arrests, interrupted the flow of drugs into Australia.

The report, which captured detections in April and June 2021, found that ecstasy use had dropped from record highs in December 2019.

1.5 tonnes of cocaine, worth $322 million, was intercepted in Australia. Picture: The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission

The decrease was blamed on a lack of parties and festivals because of Covid-19 restrictions across Australia.

The report, in conjunction with the University of Queensland and University of South Australia, also found that Sydney was Australia’s cocaine capital, while Melbourne had the highest use of heroin.

Northern Territorians were Australia’s biggest alcohol drinkers and cigarette smokers, while Adelaide was the country’s ice capital.

Hobart had the highest use of prescription painkillers including oxycodone and fentanyl, and was home to the biggest bong or marijuana smokers.

Perth was Australia’s second worst ice centre, while regional Western Australia came in just behind regional South Australia for the stimulant.

Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews said: “The results of wastewater analysis should give us pause for thought, and serve as a warning of the devastating impact of drugs on communities across the country.”

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Originally published as Ice use: Bombshell report uncovers Australia’s drugs scourge