The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program report is the fourth in a series of nine public reports. They detail the findings of drug use across a large number of sites in capital cities and regional areas across Australia.
The latest report has found methamphetamine, or ice, remains the most-consumed illicit drug in the country, with consumption increasing since last August. The report finds alcohol and nicotine remain the most-consumed legal drugs.
Dr Hester Wilson, chairwoman of the National Faculty of Specific Interest in Addiction at the Royal Australian College of GPs, says the finding on ice use offer a mixed picture.
"In terms of methamphetamine, interestingly, the overall use of methamphetamine has gone down. But, what has gone up is the percentage of people who are using crystal meth, or ice, which is a very potent, very pure form, and they're using it more often, and they're more likely to be dependent on it, and it's more likely to cause harm. It's an interesting picture. And there is no doubt that people in our community are continuing to use both legal and illegal substances and are coming to harm and are causing harm in the community as a result," says dr Wilson.
The report found more than eight tonnes of methamphetamine, three tonnes of cocaine, 1.2 tonnes of MDMA and 700 kilograms of heroin were consumed in the year to August 2017.
South Australia had the highest per capita consumption of methamphetamine, while Western Australia had the highest average regional consumption of the drug in December.
