Australia's meth, cocaine, MDMA and heroin consumption up by 34 per cent
The annual National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program shows Australians consumed 22.2 tonnes of the four drugs between August 2023 and 2024.
The combined drugs had an estimated street value of $11.5 billion, with meth accounting for $8.9 billion, or 78 per cent.
The annual survey covered 57 per cent of the country and monitored for:
Alcohol and nicotine remained the most consumed lawful drugs in the latest findings. While alcohol consumption has increased, nicotine consumption has decreased.
Cannabis also remained the most consumed illicit drug, with higher consumption in regional areas compared to capital cities.
Capital cities had higher average consumption of cocaine, MDMA, heroin and ketamine than regional areas.
Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) CEO Heather Cook said serious and organised crime remains an enduring threat to Australia's national security and safety.
"This increase reflects, in part, the recovery of these illicit drug markets following the impact of COVID-19 restrictions," she said.
Cocaine had the highest increase in consumption at 69 per cent, followed by MDMA at 49 per cent, meth at 21 per cent and heroin at 14 per cent.
"The 2.2 tonne increase in national meth consumption is concerning because 12.8 tonnes is the highest annual level recorded by the program and the drug causes significant community harm," Ms Cook said.
"Similarly, there has been a large increase in national cocaine consumption, also to the highest annual level recorded by our wastewater program."
Heroin also had the highest annual level of consumption.
Drug consumption has increased across all states and territories.
According to the report, the Northern Territory has seen the highest increase in meth, cocaine and MDMA consumption, while Tasmania had the highest increase in heroin use.
ACIC data modelling suggests the increases in drug consumption for meth, cocaine and MDMA are likely to continue to 2027, though most likely not at the same rate seen last year.
It also suggests heroin consumption is unlikely to change significantly in the next two years.
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