CANBERRA - Methamphetamine, or ice, as well as cocaine and heroin use in Australia rose to record-high levels in 2024-25, according to national wastewater monitoring, reported Xinhua.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) on Thursday published its 25th report from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Programme, revealing that Australians consumed an estimated 15,791 kilogrammes (kg) of methamphetamine in the 12 months to August 2025.
This represents a 23.2 per cent increase from the previous record of 12,815 kg in 2023-24, and an 87.9 per cent rise from 8,405 kg recorded in the programme’s first year in 2016-17.
The programme analyses samples collected from 64 wastewater treatment plants across Australia and measures the presence of 12 legal and illicit substances.
The 25th report estimated national cocaine consumption of 7,985 kg in 2024-25, surpassing the previous record-high of 6,835 kg, and record heroin consumption of 1,397 kg.
"Australia's illicit drug market continues to grow, driven by transnational criminal networks," Heather Cook, chief executive officer of ACIC, said in a statement.
"Serious and organised crime groups continue to exploit Australia's high-demand environment."
The report said that the total estimated consumption of methamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and MDMA increased by 4.6 tonnes year-on-year, and the street value of the consumed volume of the four drugs rose to AUD14.3 billion (US$10.2 billion) in 2024-25. - BERNAMA