Our drug use flushed out
THE sewage of Australians has revealed cocaine snorting is rising in Victoria and the use of “hillbilly heroin” in some rural areas of the state is above the national average.
A report released today also shows that while ice is still the most highly consumed illicit drug in Australia there has been a slight reduction in its use in recent months.
The results of wastewater testing at the inlets of 37 sewage treatment plants around the nation are contained in the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission report.
Urine and faeces excreted by more than 12.6 million Australians was tested to get the drug use figures.
Wastewater testing is considered to be the most accurate way of measuring what illegal drugs are being taken and where they are consumed.
The 45-page ACIC report, which will be released today by Justice Minister Michael Keenan, reveals that in the four months to February this year: SOME areas of Victoria had higher than average use of fentanyl, the powerful synthetic opiate drug that last year killed the musician Prince. ICE use in some parts of Victoria hit a high of up to 69 hits per 1000 people a day, compared with the national average of 35 hits per 1000. COCAINE use in some parts of Victoria is up to 11 hits a day per 1000 people, compared with the national average of five hits per 1000. SYDNEY continues to be the cocaine capital of Australia, with consumption there hitting up to 30 doses a day per 1000 people. COUNTRY Victorians are among the nation’s biggest abusers of the morphine-based painkiller oxycodone, known colloquially as hillbilly heroin.
ACIC chief executive Chris Dawson said he was disappointed the data in the report couldn’t include drug trends in Tasmania or the Northern Territory as their wastewater operators refused to take part.
He said ACIC had received $3.6 million from proceeds of crime to pay for the program.
“There was a slight but pleasing reduction in the level of methylamphetamine (ice) used nationally over the period covered by the report,” Mr Dawson said. “It is too early to say with any confidence whether this result is part of a longer-term trend.”
Mr Keenan also welcomed the drop in ice use. “This is a step in the right direction that serves as an encouraging indication that our law enforcement and health responses are having a positive impact,” he said yesterday.
“However, we must also be cautious in our optimism — a massive challenge remains ahead of us.
“Importantly, this data will allow us to further home in on the crooks responsible for this evil trade and hold them to account.”