The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission has commissioned The University of Queensland, and through it the University of South Australia, to undertake the data collection and analysis that underpins the report.
Report 20 of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program covered sampling in April and June 2023. Fifty-five wastewater sites were monitored nationally, covering a population of about 14 million Australians, equating to approximately 55% of our country’s population.
Since our last report, there have been increases in the average consumption of alcohol, methylamphetamine, MDA, oxycodone and ketamine in both capital city and regional sites. There have also been decreases in the average consumption of heroin, MDMA and fentanyl in both capital city and regional sites. Methylamphetamine – which causes the most harm to the Australian community – and cocaine consumption increased to the highest levels recorded since April and December 2020 respectively, with cannabis remaining the most consumed illicit drug in Australia.
Longitudinal data figures are available by state and territory and drug type, as a guide to trends over the period the respective drugs have been monitored by the wastewater program.
Full report
Media material
Longitudinal data figures, by state and territory and drug type
View previous National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program reports.