The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s (ACIC) latest report on drugs found in the ACT’s wastewater reveals Canberrans to be among the nation’s heaviest consumers of opioids and second highest users of heroin, fentanyl and oxycodone.
According to ACIC’s sixth National Wastewater Drug Monitoring report, nationwide, more than 9.6 tonnes of methylamphetamine is being consumed each year as well as more than four tonnes of cocaine, 1.1 tonnes of MDMA, and more than 700 kilograms of heroin.
Chief Executive of ACIC, Michael Phelan said that at street prices, the estimated value of this quantity of drugs was in the region $9.3 billion.
“Cannabis consumption has been included for the first time, showing regional average cannabis consumption exceeded capital city average consumption in August 2018,” Mr Phelan said.
“Its inclusion in the program provides further insight into one of the largest illicit drug markets in Australia.”
He said that on a national level, of the drugs measured by the program with available dose data, alcohol and nicotine remained the highest-consumed substances.
“As the program continues to build long-term drug consumption data, fluctuations in consumption are evident,” Mr Phelan said.
“Understanding local drug consumption patterns assists law enforcement, policy, regulatory and health agencies develop targeted supply, demand and harm reduction strategies.”
He said that in August 2018, the program monitored 13 licit and illicit substances at 58 wastewater sites nationally, covering 56 per cent of Australia’s population — around 13 million people. There was one site monitored in the ACT.
The commission’s 80-page report can be accessed at this PS News link.
