The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s (ICIC) study of drug levels in wastewater has found the ACT has some of the highest levels of illicit drug use in the nation.
ICIC’s fourth report from its National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program found the Territory’s consumption levels of oxycodone, cocaine and heroin were “concerning”.
Chief Executive of the ICIC, Michael Phelan said the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program provided a clear picture of changing trends in the consumption of methylamphetamine and 11 other drugs across Australia.
“Armed with this information, Government, health and law enforcement Agencies can better target policy and operational responses and reduce the impact of drugs in our society,” Mr Phelan said.
He said the monitoring, which took place in December 2017, showed the ACT had one of the highest average capital city heroin and oxycodone consumption levels, and the second highest capital city consumption level for cocaine.
The ICIC report found that in the ACT, nicotine and alcohol remained the highest consumed substances; methylamphetamine consumption had decreased; MDMA, heroin and cocaine had all increased.
“The Australian Capital Territory and Victoria had the highest average capital city heroin consumption in the country,” it said.
Mr Phelan said the Program was world leading, based on the number of substances tested, the frequency of testing, its breadth, depth and geographic scope and the longitudinal data it was generating.
“We estimate that over 8.3 tonnes of methylamphetamine is consumed in Australia each year, as well as over three tonnes of cocaine, 1.2 tonnes of MDMA and 700 kilograms of heroin,” he said.
The Commission’s 66-page national report can be accessed at this PS News link.
