Regional communities continue to battle the social and health impacts of illegal drugs and two recent reports show an escalation in both sales and use.

Statistics released by FindMyRates.com show an increase of methylamphetamine throughout the Western Plains. 

Dubbo experienced the largest increase of criminal instances for dealing and trafficking in amphetamines with 10 recorded in 2020 to 71 recorded in 2021. 

In Bourke, criminal instances of dealing and trafficking in amphetamines rose from zero in 2020 to 34 in 2021.

Across the Western Plains convictions for cannabis related offences also grew in 2021 as did possession and/or use of narcotics and possession and/or use of other drugs.

The latest wastewater analysis, released by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) on 22 October 2022, shows the harm criminal networks are inflicting on Australian communities, with an increase in the consumption of methylamphetamine across the board.

While the use of heroin remained stable in capital city sites, there was a marked increase in regional sites.

Consumption of all other drugs decreased. In particular, national consumption of MDMA, MDA, oxycodone and fentanyl fell to record low levels in April 2022.

“This is a unique situation where – with the exception of heroin – both capital city and regional sites were experiencing the same trend at the same time," said ACIC CEO Michael Phelan APM.

Since the measurements began in 2016, the wastewater monitoring has revealed persistent differences in average consumption of drug types between city and country communities.

Regional communities show disturbing trends in use of certain types of drugs according to the latest Report 17. SOURCE: acic.gov.au

The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program provides co-ordinated national research and intelligence on illicit drugs and licit drugs that can be abused, with a specific focus on methylamphetamine and other high-risk substances. 

The decrease in MDMA consumption since December 2019 is thought to be largely because of the decisions of serious and organised crime groups in Europe, which are key to the supply of MDMA in Australia.

Some of these groups appear to be transitioning from the manufacture of MDMA to methylamphetamine and this appears to be impacting the supply side of the Australian market.

Part of a regional sewage treatment facility.

Wastewater analysis is an important measure of the demand for a range of drugs and their consumption is a key indicator of the level of harm experienced by the community.

Report 17 of the ACIC’s wastewater program covered sampling in April and June 2022. In April 57 capital city and regional sites were sampled.

Although specific sites are not identified this equates to approximately 56% of the Australian population.

“The increase in methylamphetamine consumption to longer term average levels likely reflects normal market forces now the illicit drugs market is less impacted by COVID-19 restrictions," Mr Phelan said.

"Cannabis aside, methylamphetamine consumption in Australia has consistently been far higher than other illicit drugs because Australian users have a preference for illicit stimulants, there is strong demand in capital cities and regional areas and the drug is highly addictive."

The methylamphetamine market is supplied by imports as well as domestic manufacture.

ACIC CEO Michael Phelan APM Source: ACIC

“We know that illicit drug activity is placing a significant burden on the Australian economy and this money could be better spent on education, healthcare and more," said Mr Phelan.

“Understanding drug consumption at the population level supports effective allocation of resources and informs appropriate demand, supply and harm reduction strategies. This is critical in addressing drug use in Australia."

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