Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission has today released the fourth report of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, revealing Western Australia reported some of the highest levels of methylamphetamine consumption in the country.
Minister for Law Enforcement and Cyber Security, the Hon Angus Taylor MP launched the report today, alongside Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Phelan APM, in Mandurah.
“It is concerning to see methylamphetamine consumption on the rise in both capital city and regional sites in Western Australia,” Mr Phelan said.
“This destructive drug is having a terrible impact not only on users, but on families, first responders, health practitioners and the community more broadly.
“The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program provides a clear picture of changing trends in the consumption of methylamphetamine and 11 other drugs across Australia. Armed with this information, government, health and law enforcement agencies can better target policy and operational responses and reduce the impact of drugs in our society,” Mr Phelan said.
Six sites were monitored in the state in December 2017—three capital city sites and three regional sites.
Mr Phelan said the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program is world leading based on the number of substances tested, the frequency of testing, its breadth, depth and geographic scope and the longitudinal data it is generating.
The fourth report also provides conservative estimates of the weight of methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin consumed nationally in a year.
“We estimate that over 8.3 tonnes of methylamphetamine is consumed in Australia each year, as well as over 3 tonnes of cocaine, 1.2 tonnes of MDMA and 700 kilograms of heroin,” Mr Phelan said.
“Such estimates can then be compared with other data, such as the weight of drugs seized by law enforcement, to further enrich our collective understanding of these drug markets and identify the most effective supply, demand and harm reduction measures.”
The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program found that of the substances tested in Western Australia in December 2017:
- Nicotine and alcohol remain the highest consumed substances.
- Average methylamphetamine consumption increased in capital city and regional sites.
- Western Australia had the highest average regional consumption of methylamphetamine in the country.
- Average cocaine consumption increased in capital city sites and remained relatively stable in regional sites.
- Average MDMA consumption increased in capital city sites and remained relatively stable in regional sites.
- Average heroin consumption decreased in capital city and regional sites.
For this report, samples were collected during October and December 2017, covering 12 substances. Forty-five wastewater sites were monitored nationally in December 2017, covering 54.3 per cent of Australia’s population—around 12.7 million people.
Population estimates have been refined in this report, which has increased the precision and accuracy of consumption estimates. Such enhancements enable the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and its partners to better shape more effective, targeted response to drug demand and supply—particularly in high-use areas.
“We will continue to engage with academia, industry and community organisations to expand use of the data, focus responses in high risk areas, and monitor the effectiveness of demand, supply and harm reduction initiatives,” Mr Phelan said.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission received $3.6 million over three years from Proceeds of Crime funding for the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program and has commissioned the University of Queensland and the University of South Australia to undertake the program and prepare the research report findings.
The full report is available on the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission website.