Latest wastewater testing reveals regional WA has highest meth consumption levels

Regional Western Australia has recorded the highest methylamphetamine consumption levels across the country.

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission today released the seventh report of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program.

Across the six sites monitored in the state in December 2018—three capital city and three regional sites—findings show Western Australia had the highest average regional methylamphetamine consumption and the second highest average capital city consumption nationally.

Western Australia also had the second highest average capital city consumption of MDMA and cannabis in the country. 

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Chief Executive Officer Mr Michael Phelan APM said the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program gives valuable insight into the trends and emerging issues of drug consumption across Australia and can identify new sources of threat.

 “The Australian community continues to consume illicit drugs at concerning levels and the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring 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 the full benefits of the ongoing program.”

The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program found that, compared to August 2018, of the substances tested in December 2018 in Western Australia:
•           average nicotine consumption increased in capital city sites and decreased in regional sites

•           average alcohol consumption decreased in both capital city and regional sites

•           average methylamphetamine consumption increased in capital city sites and decreased regional sites

•           average cocaine consumption decreased in both capital city and regional sites

•           average MDMA consumption increased in both capital city and regional sites

•           average MDA consumption increased in capital city sites and decreased in regional sites

•           average oxycodone consumption decreased in both capital city and regional sites

•           average fentanyl consumption increased in capital city sites and decreased in regional sites

•           average heroin consumption decreased in both capital city and regional sites

•           average cannabis consumption increased in both capital city and regional sites. 

The report is available from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission website: www.acic.gov.au