Report 23 of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program is based on data collected in April (capital city and regional sites) and June 2024 (capital city sites only). The report covers approximately 56% of the population and provides a comprehensive picture of Australia’s illicit drug markets and drug consumption habits for 12 substances.
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Findings
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.
During the collection period there was record high ketamine excretion detection in both capital cities and regional areas, underlining an escalation in use. Conversely, this report also highlighted differences between the Australian drug market and those in North America. While the latter markets are experiencing an opioid crisis, there was record low regional consumption of oxycodone and fentanyl in Australia in April 2024.
Despite a decrease in national cocaine consumption since December 2023, consumption remains higher than at pre-COVID-19 pandemic levels, signalling a possible longer-term expansion of the market. Current methylamphetamine consumption is above long-term average levels, but not quite to the maximum levels prior to COVID-19.
Longitudinal figures
Longitudinal figures are available for each state and territory and broken down by drug type. These figures offer a guide to trends over the period the respective drugs have been monitored by the wastewater program. We are unable to provide exact data.
View previous reports from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program.