Australia has topped the list of methylamphetamine use among more than 20 countries, according to a wastewater analysis.
Key points:
- National Wastewater Drug Analysis monitors 12 different substances in Australian capitals and regional areas
- The data are compared with other countries such as the United Kingdom, South Korea and France
- Methylamphetamine is the most popular illicit drug in Australia
The latest report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) found that in December 2021, methylamphetamine consumption in Australia was the highest per capita compared to the nations of Europe, Asia and Oceania.
For the first time since 2017, the use of methylamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA in Australian capitals surpassed regional areas.
Perth is the new methamphetamine capital of Australia, while the New South Wales region has the highest methamphetamine use among rural Australia.
Illicit stimulants show first signs of increase after the pandemic, but have not yet reached levels recorded before COVID-19.
The National Wastewater Drug Control compares samples taken in Australia between December 2021 and February this year.
ACIC Executive Director Michael Phelan said this period is a time when COVID-19 restrictions have been relaxed or removed in most Australian states.
“Organized crime groups have redoubled their efforts to supply major illicit drug markets as COVID-19 restrictions were reduced, generating significant illicit revenues, but they continue to face challenges, especially by law enforcement agencies, “Phelan said.
“Regular, near-real-time wastewater reporting allows the ACIC and our partners to detect and respond to growing drug threats in a timely manner and monitor the impact of responses.”
Methylamphetamine use in Australia has experienced a resurgence after the pandemic, according to a report. (ABC: Kate Hill)
Australia leads the use of stimulants
Australia ranks highest in terms of combined use of methylamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA compared to other nations such as New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Portugal and South Korea.
The samples collected in April 2021 in Australia were used to compare with the Sewage Core Group Europe (SCORE) analysis which gathered results from 86 cities in 27 countries.
The Czech Republic also ranks second on the list of methamphetamine use, while cocaine was more popular in France.
Of the 26 countries that reported MDMA consumption, Australia ranked fifth, while in terms of cannabis we ranked sixth out of 16 countries.
The SCORE study does not include most Asian nations and the Americas.
Cities had more methamphetamine use
ACIC chief drug adviser Shane Neilson said the Australian illicit drug market was supplied by both international imports and domestic manufacturing.
He said that when COVID-19 restrictions were eased in December last year, the market was at a stage where illicit drugs “were being replenished”.
“Therefore, it was logical that the consumption of the capital to which the product was imported was higher than the regional one where they had to be moved from the cities to the regional areas,” he said.
He said the reopening of international borders played an “important role” in increasing illicit drug use.
“Movement restrictions as well as restrictions on the association and closure of entertainment venues certainly had a downward effect on consumption,” he said.
“As these restrictions gradually relaxed, and this was the case in most jurisdictions during the review period, drug use increased, especially for stimulants.”
Neilson said cannabis, which was produced largely nationally, did not see a large drop in its use during the pandemic and would likely remain stable for the rest of the year.
More than 200 kg of methyl amphetamines confiscated in Perth in a joint operation linked to a ship that was confiscated on the Midwest coast of WA in 2020. (Supplied by: WA police)
The hardest drug habit to give up
While alcohol and nicotine remain the most common substance, methylamphetamine was the most popular illicit drug in Australia.
“What we found were most markets that were supplied primarily for reduced imports during the COVID period,” Neilson said.
“The exception is the methylamphetamine market, it has now shrunk considerably, but what also happened was still significantly higher in terms of consumption than most other illicit drugs.
“So it’s a very tough market that’s a perverse problem in Australia.”
Despite the rising cost of living pressures, Neilson said that if given the option, people would still choose to take illicit drugs instead of paying for domestic necessities.
“I think it’s a pretty sad situation and underlies the damage that the consumption of these illicit drugs entails.”
Perth is the new capital of methamphetamine
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Neilson said Perth has traditionally had high levels of methylamphetamine use per capita, despite strict COVID restrictions over the past two years.
“The problem is that the population in Perth is lower than in the capitals of the east coast … the level of consumption is really higher in terms of weight on the east coast, but per capita is why Perth is high” .
Neilson said the NSW region has the highest per capita consumption because they are part of the key drug supply routes.
“What we expect in the next four or eight months would be a return to more normal consumption levels, especially in the methylamphetamine market,” he said.