Aust, NZ world's biggest cocaine, ecstasy users: UN
Australia and New Zealand have the highest per capita cocaine and ecstasy use in the world, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2025.
Three per cent of people between the ages of 15-64 in the countries grouped under the Oceania region used cocaine in 2023, almost double that of the Americas (1.6 per cent) and slightly less than triple that of Europe (1.1 per cent), according to the data published on Thursday.
However, wastewater analysis cited in the report showed that consumption is "clearly lower" than other parts of the world, suggesting most users in the two countries use the drug occasionally, rather than regularly.
"Past-year use of 'ecstasy' in the subregion ... remains by far the highest worldwide; this is consistent with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) levels found in wastewater analysis," it added.
In addition, it said cannabis use in the two countries is "still significantly higher than the global average", and prevalence among school students aged 15 and 16 is also relatively high in Oceania, at 13 per cent, compared with the global average of 4.4 per cent
The report highlights that global cocaine production reached 3700 tons of pure cocaine in 2023, a 34 per cent increase on the previous year, and that drug trafficking routes have increasingly diversified to Africa, Asia and Australia, and are no longer limited to its main markets, Europe and North America.
"The Pacific islands are increasingly targeted as transit points for cocaine and methamphetamine primarily destined for Australia and New Zealand," the report notes.
Seizures of cocaine also reached "record levels" in the two countries, where drug trafficking groups are attracted by the greater purchasing power of its citizens and the high price of the drug.
Furthermore, drug traffickers take advantage of the thousands of kilometres of coastline of these two large island nations due to the difficulty of policing such a vast area.
In December 2024, Australian police seized 2.34 tons of cocaine (with a blackmarket value of nearly $A760 million) in one of the country's largest anti-drug operations.
Australia and New Zealand have the highest per capita cocaine and ecstasy use in the world, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2025.
Three per cent of people between the ages of 15-64 in the countries grouped under the Oceania region used cocaine in 2023, almost double that of the Americas (1.6 per cent) and slightly less than triple that of Europe (1.1 per cent), according to the data published on Thursday.
However, wastewater analysis cited in the report showed that consumption is "clearly lower" than other parts of the world, suggesting most users in the two countries use the drug occasionally, rather than regularly.
"Past-year use of 'ecstasy' in the subregion ... remains by far the highest worldwide; this is consistent with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) levels found in wastewater analysis," it added.
In addition, it said cannabis use in the two countries is "still significantly higher than the global average", and prevalence among school students aged 15 and 16 is also relatively high in Oceania, at 13 per cent, compared with the global average of 4.4 per cent
The report highlights that global cocaine production reached 3700 tons of pure cocaine in 2023, a 34 per cent increase on the previous year, and that drug trafficking routes have increasingly diversified to Africa, Asia and Australia, and are no longer limited to its main markets, Europe and North America.
"The Pacific islands are increasingly targeted as transit points for cocaine and methamphetamine primarily destined for Australia and New Zealand," the report notes.
Seizures of cocaine also reached "record levels" in the two countries, where drug trafficking groups are attracted by the greater purchasing power of its citizens and the high price of the drug.
Furthermore, drug traffickers take advantage of the thousands of kilometres of coastline of these two large island nations due to the difficulty of policing such a vast area.
In December 2024, Australian police seized 2.34 tons of cocaine (with a blackmarket value of nearly $A760 million) in one of the country's largest anti-drug operations.
Australia and New Zealand have the highest per capita cocaine and ecstasy use in the world, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2025.
Three per cent of people between the ages of 15-64 in the countries grouped under the Oceania region used cocaine in 2023, almost double that of the Americas (1.6 per cent) and slightly less than triple that of Europe (1.1 per cent), according to the data published on Thursday.
However, wastewater analysis cited in the report showed that consumption is "clearly lower" than other parts of the world, suggesting most users in the two countries use the drug occasionally, rather than regularly.
"Past-year use of 'ecstasy' in the subregion ... remains by far the highest worldwide; this is consistent with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) levels found in wastewater analysis," it added.
In addition, it said cannabis use in the two countries is "still significantly higher than the global average", and prevalence among school students aged 15 and 16 is also relatively high in Oceania, at 13 per cent, compared with the global average of 4.4 per cent
The report highlights that global cocaine production reached 3700 tons of pure cocaine in 2023, a 34 per cent increase on the previous year, and that drug trafficking routes have increasingly diversified to Africa, Asia and Australia, and are no longer limited to its main markets, Europe and North America.
"The Pacific islands are increasingly targeted as transit points for cocaine and methamphetamine primarily destined for Australia and New Zealand," the report notes.
Seizures of cocaine also reached "record levels" in the two countries, where drug trafficking groups are attracted by the greater purchasing power of its citizens and the high price of the drug.
Furthermore, drug traffickers take advantage of the thousands of kilometres of coastline of these two large island nations due to the difficulty of policing such a vast area.
In December 2024, Australian police seized 2.34 tons of cocaine (with a blackmarket value of nearly $A760 million) in one of the country's largest anti-drug operations.
Australia and New Zealand have the highest per capita cocaine and ecstasy use in the world, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2025.
Three per cent of people between the ages of 15-64 in the countries grouped under the Oceania region used cocaine in 2023, almost double that of the Americas (1.6 per cent) and slightly less than triple that of Europe (1.1 per cent), according to the data published on Thursday.
However, wastewater analysis cited in the report showed that consumption is "clearly lower" than other parts of the world, suggesting most users in the two countries use the drug occasionally, rather than regularly.
"Past-year use of 'ecstasy' in the subregion ... remains by far the highest worldwide; this is consistent with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) levels found in wastewater analysis," it added.
In addition, it said cannabis use in the two countries is "still significantly higher than the global average", and prevalence among school students aged 15 and 16 is also relatively high in Oceania, at 13 per cent, compared with the global average of 4.4 per cent
The report highlights that global cocaine production reached 3700 tons of pure cocaine in 2023, a 34 per cent increase on the previous year, and that drug trafficking routes have increasingly diversified to Africa, Asia and Australia, and are no longer limited to its main markets, Europe and North America.
"The Pacific islands are increasingly targeted as transit points for cocaine and methamphetamine primarily destined for Australia and New Zealand," the report notes.
Seizures of cocaine also reached "record levels" in the two countries, where drug trafficking groups are attracted by the greater purchasing power of its citizens and the high price of the drug.
Furthermore, drug traffickers take advantage of the thousands of kilometres of coastline of these two large island nations due to the difficulty of policing such a vast area.
In December 2024, Australian police seized 2.34 tons of cocaine (with a blackmarket value of nearly $A760 million) in one of the country's largest anti-drug operations.
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The Advertiser
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Aust, NZ world's biggest cocaine, ecstasy users: UN
Australia and New Zealand have the highest per capita cocaine and ecstasy use in the world, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2025. Three per cent of people between the ages of 15-64 in the countries grouped under the Oceania region used cocaine in 2023, almost double that of the Americas (1.6 per cent) and slightly less than triple that of Europe (1.1 per cent), according to the data published on Thursday. However, wastewater analysis cited in the report showed that consumption is "clearly lower" than other parts of the world, suggesting most users in the two countries use the drug occasionally, rather than regularly. "Past-year use of 'ecstasy' in the subregion ... remains by far the highest worldwide; this is consistent with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) levels found in wastewater analysis," it added. In addition, it said cannabis use in the two countries is "still significantly higher than the global average", and prevalence among school students aged 15 and 16 is also relatively high in Oceania, at 13 per cent, compared with the global average of 4.4 per cent The report highlights that global cocaine production reached 3700 tons of pure cocaine in 2023, a 34 per cent increase on the previous year, and that drug trafficking routes have increasingly diversified to Africa, Asia and Australia, and are no longer limited to its main markets, Europe and North America. "The Pacific islands are increasingly targeted as transit points for cocaine and methamphetamine primarily destined for Australia and New Zealand," the report notes. Seizures of cocaine also reached "record levels" in the two countries, where drug trafficking groups are attracted by the greater purchasing power of its citizens and the high price of the drug. Furthermore, drug traffickers take advantage of the thousands of kilometres of coastline of these two large island nations due to the difficulty of policing such a vast area. In December 2024, Australian police seized 2.34 tons of cocaine (with a blackmarket value of nearly $A760 million) in one of the country's largest anti-drug operations. Australia and New Zealand have the highest per capita cocaine and ecstasy use in the world, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2025. Three per cent of people between the ages of 15-64 in the countries grouped under the Oceania region used cocaine in 2023, almost double that of the Americas (1.6 per cent) and slightly less than triple that of Europe (1.1 per cent), according to the data published on Thursday. However, wastewater analysis cited in the report showed that consumption is "clearly lower" than other parts of the world, suggesting most users in the two countries use the drug occasionally, rather than regularly. "Past-year use of 'ecstasy' in the subregion ... remains by far the highest worldwide; this is consistent with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) levels found in wastewater analysis," it added. In addition, it said cannabis use in the two countries is "still significantly higher than the global average", and prevalence among school students aged 15 and 16 is also relatively high in Oceania, at 13 per cent, compared with the global average of 4.4 per cent The report highlights that global cocaine production reached 3700 tons of pure cocaine in 2023, a 34 per cent increase on the previous year, and that drug trafficking routes have increasingly diversified to Africa, Asia and Australia, and are no longer limited to its main markets, Europe and North America. "The Pacific islands are increasingly targeted as transit points for cocaine and methamphetamine primarily destined for Australia and New Zealand," the report notes. Seizures of cocaine also reached "record levels" in the two countries, where drug trafficking groups are attracted by the greater purchasing power of its citizens and the high price of the drug. Furthermore, drug traffickers take advantage of the thousands of kilometres of coastline of these two large island nations due to the difficulty of policing such a vast area. In December 2024, Australian police seized 2.34 tons of cocaine (with a blackmarket value of nearly $A760 million) in one of the country's largest anti-drug operations. Australia and New Zealand have the highest per capita cocaine and ecstasy use in the world, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2025. Three per cent of people between the ages of 15-64 in the countries grouped under the Oceania region used cocaine in 2023, almost double that of the Americas (1.6 per cent) and slightly less than triple that of Europe (1.1 per cent), according to the data published on Thursday. However, wastewater analysis cited in the report showed that consumption is "clearly lower" than other parts of the world, suggesting most users in the two countries use the drug occasionally, rather than regularly. "Past-year use of 'ecstasy' in the subregion ... remains by far the highest worldwide; this is consistent with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) levels found in wastewater analysis," it added. In addition, it said cannabis use in the two countries is "still significantly higher than the global average", and prevalence among school students aged 15 and 16 is also relatively high in Oceania, at 13 per cent, compared with the global average of 4.4 per cent The report highlights that global cocaine production reached 3700 tons of pure cocaine in 2023, a 34 per cent increase on the previous year, and that drug trafficking routes have increasingly diversified to Africa, Asia and Australia, and are no longer limited to its main markets, Europe and North America. "The Pacific islands are increasingly targeted as transit points for cocaine and methamphetamine primarily destined for Australia and New Zealand," the report notes. Seizures of cocaine also reached "record levels" in the two countries, where drug trafficking groups are attracted by the greater purchasing power of its citizens and the high price of the drug. Furthermore, drug traffickers take advantage of the thousands of kilometres of coastline of these two large island nations due to the difficulty of policing such a vast area. In December 2024, Australian police seized 2.34 tons of cocaine (with a blackmarket value of nearly $A760 million) in one of the country's largest anti-drug operations. Australia and New Zealand have the highest per capita cocaine and ecstasy use in the world, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) World Drug Report 2025. Three per cent of people between the ages of 15-64 in the countries grouped under the Oceania region used cocaine in 2023, almost double that of the Americas (1.6 per cent) and slightly less than triple that of Europe (1.1 per cent), according to the data published on Thursday. However, wastewater analysis cited in the report showed that consumption is "clearly lower" than other parts of the world, suggesting most users in the two countries use the drug occasionally, rather than regularly. "Past-year use of 'ecstasy' in the subregion ... remains by far the highest worldwide; this is consistent with 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) levels found in wastewater analysis," it added. In addition, it said cannabis use in the two countries is "still significantly higher than the global average", and prevalence among school students aged 15 and 16 is also relatively high in Oceania, at 13 per cent, compared with the global average of 4.4 per cent The report highlights that global cocaine production reached 3700 tons of pure cocaine in 2023, a 34 per cent increase on the previous year, and that drug trafficking routes have increasingly diversified to Africa, Asia and Australia, and are no longer limited to its main markets, Europe and North America. "The Pacific islands are increasingly targeted as transit points for cocaine and methamphetamine primarily destined for Australia and New Zealand," the report notes. Seizures of cocaine also reached "record levels" in the two countries, where drug trafficking groups are attracted by the greater purchasing power of its citizens and the high price of the drug. Furthermore, drug traffickers take advantage of the thousands of kilometres of coastline of these two large island nations due to the difficulty of policing such a vast area. In December 2024, Australian police seized 2.34 tons of cocaine (with a blackmarket value of nearly $A760 million) in one of the country's largest anti-drug operations.
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The Sydney company is reportedly providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets, of which the Israeli military has about 40. Legal Observers NSW said the clashes escalated when police issued the protesters with a move-on order and were arrested for not complying with a police direction. "People were walking on the footpath when police issued them a baseless move-on direction and then assaulted protesters when they asked for an explanation," Legal Observers NSW spokesman Adam al-Hayek said. NSW Police said a "scuffle" had ensued between the two groups when officers attempted to arrest protesters who were not complying with the directions. Officers had earlier issued a move-on direction to a group of about 60 protesters before arresting a 29-year-old woman who failed to move, NSW Police said in a statement. Three more protesters were arrested after a second move-on order, including a 35-year-old woman who suffered facial injuries and was taken to hospital, the statement said. A 24-year-old man was arrested after allegedly taking an officer's body-worn camera. The five arrested protesters were granted bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. One of the arrested protesters, Rising Tide organiser Zack Schofield, said he witnessed a "sickening" police assault against one of the protesters. Another detained protester, Maritime Union of Australia organiser Shane Reside, alleged he was targeted for arrest by police for calling out their actions. Greens senator David Shoebridge told AAP he expected the incident to result in not only a referral to the NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission but other legal action. "When police are deployed to protect weapons companies instead of protecting the right to peaceful protest, we must ask whose interests they are really serving," he said in a statement. "The arrest of multiple peaceful protesters who are calling for Australia to stop arming a genocide shows how far we've moved from protecting peaceful dissent." Police have arrested five people for protesting Israel's war in Gaza outside the premises of an Australian firm linked to the manufacturing of fighter jets used by the IDF. A picket at SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's west escalated on Friday morning when NSW Police clashed with protesters, allegedly leaving one woman with facial injuries. The Sydney company is reportedly providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets, of which the Israeli military has about 40. Legal Observers NSW said the clashes escalated when police issued the protesters with a move-on order and were arrested for not complying with a police direction. "People were walking on the footpath when police issued them a baseless move-on direction and then assaulted protesters when they asked for an explanation," Legal Observers NSW spokesman Adam al-Hayek said. NSW Police said a "scuffle" had ensued between the two groups when officers attempted to arrest protesters who were not complying with the directions. Officers had earlier issued a move-on direction to a group of about 60 protesters before arresting a 29-year-old woman who failed to move, NSW Police said in a statement. Three more protesters were arrested after a second move-on order, including a 35-year-old woman who suffered facial injuries and was taken to hospital, the statement said. A 24-year-old man was arrested after allegedly taking an officer's body-worn camera. The five arrested protesters were granted bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. One of the arrested protesters, Rising Tide organiser Zack Schofield, said he witnessed a "sickening" police assault against one of the protesters. Another detained protester, Maritime Union of Australia organiser Shane Reside, alleged he was targeted for arrest by police for calling out their actions. Greens senator David Shoebridge told AAP he expected the incident to result in not only a referral to the NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission but other legal action. "When police are deployed to protect weapons companies instead of protecting the right to peaceful protest, we must ask whose interests they are really serving," he said in a statement. "The arrest of multiple peaceful protesters who are calling for Australia to stop arming a genocide shows how far we've moved from protecting peaceful dissent." Police have arrested five people for protesting Israel's war in Gaza outside the premises of an Australian firm linked to the manufacturing of fighter jets used by the IDF. A picket at SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's west escalated on Friday morning when NSW Police clashed with protesters, allegedly leaving one woman with facial injuries. The Sydney company is reportedly providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets, of which the Israeli military has about 40. Legal Observers NSW said the clashes escalated when police issued the protesters with a move-on order and were arrested for not complying with a police direction. "People were walking on the footpath when police issued them a baseless move-on direction and then assaulted protesters when they asked for an explanation," Legal Observers NSW spokesman Adam al-Hayek said. NSW Police said a "scuffle" had ensued between the two groups when officers attempted to arrest protesters who were not complying with the directions. Officers had earlier issued a move-on direction to a group of about 60 protesters before arresting a 29-year-old woman who failed to move, NSW Police said in a statement. Three more protesters were arrested after a second move-on order, including a 35-year-old woman who suffered facial injuries and was taken to hospital, the statement said. A 24-year-old man was arrested after allegedly taking an officer's body-worn camera. The five arrested protesters were granted bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. One of the arrested protesters, Rising Tide organiser Zack Schofield, said he witnessed a "sickening" police assault against one of the protesters. Another detained protester, Maritime Union of Australia organiser Shane Reside, alleged he was targeted for arrest by police for calling out their actions. Greens senator David Shoebridge told AAP he expected the incident to result in not only a referral to the NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission but other legal action. "When police are deployed to protect weapons companies instead of protecting the right to peaceful protest, we must ask whose interests they are really serving," he said in a statement. "The arrest of multiple peaceful protesters who are calling for Australia to stop arming a genocide shows how far we've moved from protecting peaceful dissent."
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Police have arrested five people for protesting Israel's war in Gaza outside the premises of an Australian firm linked to the manufacturing of fighter jets used by the IDF. A picket at SEC Plating in Belmore in Sydney's west escalated on Friday morning when NSW Police clashed with protesters, allegedly leaving one woman with facial injuries. The Sydney company is reportedly providing plating services for various parts used in F-35 jets, of which the Israeli military has about 40. Legal Observers NSW said the clashes escalated when police issued the protesters with a move-on order and were arrested for not complying with a police direction. "People were walking on the footpath when police issued them a baseless move-on direction and then assaulted protesters when they asked for an explanation," Legal Observers NSW spokesman Adam al-Hayek said. NSW Police said a "scuffle" had ensued between the two groups when officers attempted to arrest protesters who were not complying with the directions. Officers had earlier issued a move-on direction to a group of about 60 protesters before arresting a 29-year-old woman who failed to move, NSW Police said in a statement. Three more protesters were arrested after a second move-on order, including a 35-year-old woman who suffered facial injuries and was taken to hospital, the statement said. A 24-year-old man was arrested after allegedly taking an officer's body-worn camera. The five arrested protesters were granted bail to appear in Bankstown Local Court on July 15. One of the arrested protesters, Rising Tide organiser Zack Schofield, said he witnessed a "sickening" police assault against one of the protesters. Another detained protester, Maritime Union of Australia organiser Shane Reside, alleged he was targeted for arrest by police for calling out their actions. Greens senator David Shoebridge told AAP he expected the incident to result in not only a referral to the NSW Law Enforcement Conduct Commission but other legal action. "When police are deployed to protect weapons companies instead of protecting the right to peaceful protest, we must ask whose interests they are really serving," he said in a statement. "The arrest of multiple peaceful protesters who are calling for Australia to stop arming a genocide shows how far we've moved from protecting peaceful dissent."
