The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has published the findings of its latest waste water drug monitoring program, revealing that the use of oxycodone, fentanyl and cocaine in the ACT is among the highest in the nation.
While the ACT’s use of cocaine and fentanyl had fallen, it still had the second highest average capital city consumption for the drugs.
Chief Executive of ACIC, Michael Phelan said the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program gave valuable insight into the trends and emerging issues of drug consumption across Australia and could identify new sources of threat.
“The Australian community continues to consume illicit drugs at concerning levels and the program is providing an important, unified and consistent guiding tool for developing holistic drug responses,” Mr Phelan said.
“We are only now starting to realise its full benefits.”
There was one site monitored in the ACT — the exact locations are never released — and the program found that, compared to August 2018, of the substances tested in December 2018 the consumption of nicotine, methylamphetamine, MDMA, oxycodone and heroin all increased.
It found however that there had been decreases in the ACT’s consumption of cannabis, alcohol, cocaine, MDA and fentanyl.
Mr Phelan said the program had received an additional $4.8 million this year to fund a further four years.
“The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission will continue to develop its potential over the coming years and deliver three reports per annum,” Mr Phelan said.
