Australians are using 'ice', cocaine and heroin at record levels
Methylamphetamine (ice), cocaine and heroin were all found at record highs.
It has boosted the illicit drug trade, with an estimated $11.5 billion being spent. Australia's insatiable appetite for illicit drugs is fuelling demand from international crime groups and drug dealers cashing in on the lucrative market. Analysis of wastewater by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, in partnership with universities, detected a growth in consumption of major illicit drugs around the nation. Methylamphetamine (ice), cocaine and heroin were all found at record highs in the latest analysis, which began in 2016.
More than 22 tonnes of those three drugs, as well as MDMA (ecstasy), was consumed in Australia in the year to August 2024, according to the wastewater analysis.
It has boosted the illicit drug trade and the profits for organised criminals, with an estimated $11.5 billion being spent. Cocaine use increased almost 70 per cent, MDMA almost 50 per cent, and heroin almost 15 per cent. The commission's drug specialist Shane Neilson said the market was rebounding after consumption dropped amid tighter border controls and lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic. Large profits from a consumer base willing and able to pay higher prices than other global markets are driving the business. Drug traffickers will throw tonnes of product at Australia's borders, knowing whatever gets through will make enough money to outweigh losses from seizures, some of which outweigh total detected annual consumption, Neilson said. "It's just a relentless determination of transnational and domestic serious and organised crime groups to continue to supply the Australian market," he said.
Organised crime groups are also thought to be fuelling a rise in illicit tobacco, but while nicotine consumption reversed a decline in the second half of 2024, it's impossible to determine what proportion of it was obtained on the black market.
Ketamine use is also on the rise. Forensic analysts believe the majority of the general anaesthetic being consumed is imported and illicit, with the drug's use in medical and veterinary settings less prevalent. It's the same for cannabis, despite thousands of people being medically prescribed. "Although the number of users of medicinal cannabis is increasing, it's small relative to the overall use of cannabis," Neilson said. The nation's multi-billion-dollar splurge on illicit drugs sends profits solely to organised criminals, the crime commission said. "There is no taxation on these profits and economically it does have an impact," Neilson said. The latest National Drug Strategy Household Survey suggests nearly one in two Australians aged 14 and over (10.2 million people) had illicitly used a drug at some point in their lifetime, including the non-medical use of pharmaceuticals.
An estimated one in five (3.9 million) used in the past 12 months.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
29 minutes ago
- ABC News
Aviation authority launches cross-claim against Matt Wright over fatal helicopter crash
Australia's aviation regulator has launched a counter-claim against Matt Wright, arguing the TV star should pay any damages awarded over a 2022 chopper crash that killed his co-star and close friend, Chris "Willow" Wilson. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) claims Mr Wright should pay 100 per cent of any damages awarded to Mr Wilson's widow, Danielle Wilson, alleging his failure to comply with its conditions "caused or materially contributed to" Mr Wilson's death. Danielle Wilson is suing CASA, Mr Wright and his company Helibrook in the Federal Court over her husband's death on February 28, 2022, during a crocodile egg-collecting mission in remote Arnhem Land. Ms Wilson claims CASA should never have approved the method whereby Mr Wilson was slung below a helicopter piloted by Sebastian Robinson and lowered onto crocodile nests to collect their eggs. "If CASA had taken any of the reasonable precautions the accident would not have occurred or, in the alternative, the failure by CASA to take the reasonable precautions materially contributed to the accident," her statement of claim reads. Ms Wilson claims Mr Wright also failed to take reasonable precautions, including by taking steps "to ensure that Helibrook had in place an appropriate safety culture and appropriate systems, practices and procedures". But in a cross-claim filed with the court last month, CASA claims Mr Wright "was the person ultimately responsible" for ensuring Helibrook and its workers complied with the terms of the regulator's approval. "The cross-respondent [Mr Wright] did not ensure compliance with the conditions imposed by CASA on conduct of the activity, or with the civil aviation legislation during the flight on 28 February, 2022," the document reads. CASA's cross-claim argues Mr Wright should be liable for 100 per cent of any damages the regulator is ordered to pay Ms Wilson. In his defence to the original statement of claim, Mr Wright denies he failed to take reasonable precautions and denies any negligence by himself or Helibrook. "The third respondent [Mr Wright] denies that he was Mr Wilson or Mr Robinson's employer pro hac vice and denies that he was vicariously liable for the acts of Mr Robinson as alleged or at all," it reads. "The third respondent contends that the applicant and Mr Robinson were independent contractors and not employees of Helibrook or the third respondent." The case is due to return to the Federal Court on Friday.
ABC News
29 minutes ago
- ABC News
Judge tells former protective services officer who revealed protected material to 'reassess his future'
The ACT's Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker has told a former protective services officer he will have to "reassess his future" after he was convicted of revealing protected information. Daniel Jurgens, 29, has been given a two-year good behaviour order after pleading guilty to a charge of revealing the material, on three separate occasions. In one instance he shared CCTV footage of himself being allegedly assaulted in a Canberra watch house, in a text message to a family member. The other two incidents involved sharing information gained from police material, about two relatives, with another family member. His lawyer, Kevin Raison, told the court it was a breach. "He shouldn't have done it," Mr Raison said. But he said within the work environment there was a culture where others watched the CCTV footage. He told the court Jurgens was suspended with pay, but his income fell dramatically with no penalty rates, causing financial stress on his family. The court heard Jurgens also suffered PTSD in part from the investigation. Mr Raison asked the court to consider that Jurgens had derived no personal gain and asked for a non-conviction order. But Prosecuting Barrister James Maher argued against the idea. He said Jurgens was under an obligation to keep the material secret. Mr Maher pointed out Jurgens had not long graduated from training, when he would have had to sign agreements to recognise his obligations. He also reminded the court about Jurgens's comment to a family member when he said: "It's all sensitive stuff don't tell anyone." Mr Maher said he was clearly aware of what was wrong about his actions. He said such disclosures undermine the public confidence in the police. Chief Magistrate Lorraine Walker said she accepted Jurgens's remorse was genuine, but rejected his non-conviction application. She said because there were three instances, it was clearly not an isolated incident, in circumstances where he must have been aware of his obligations, especially since he hoped to eventually become a police officer. But she did advise him to "reassess his future". As well as the good behaviour order, Jurgens will have to pay a security of $2,000.
News.com.au
40 minutes ago
- News.com.au
A couple who died in a suspected double suicide in Sydney's CBD have been identified
A Sydney couple who died in a suspected double suicide in the CBD on Saturday morning have been identified. Angela Nesbitt and Steven Dash were found by emergency services on Harbour St in Sydney under the Western Distributor overpass about 9.45am. The married couple believed to be in their 40s had both died before emergency services arrived. The Daily Telegraph reported their deaths are now being investigated by police after they were alerted to the couple's erratic behaviour about an hour earlier. The pair had been at Sydney's Star Casino when they were asked to leave by security about 8.55am, the newspaper reported. A comment was allegedly made about self harming to security, so they contacted police who were trying to locate the pair when the tragedy unfolded. NSW Police said in a statement on Saturday they were not treating the incident as suspicious. 'Following extensive inquiries – and the availability of mobile phone and CCTV footage – investigators have established there are no suspicious circumstances,' NSW Police said. 'A report will be prepared for the information of the coroner.' The incident caused the closure of two southbound lanes of the Harbour Bridge, and Harbour St was closed to southbound traffic.
