Virus is a mixed blessing on drugs

THE use of methamphetamine and fentanyl plummeted in cities across Australia between April and August last year in one positive side effect of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

The latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program report, to be published by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission on Thursday, also found that alcohol, nicotine, cocaine, oxycodone and cannabis use shot up during that time.

Australians spent an estimated $8.9bn on methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin in the past year, with 78 per cent of that ($6.96bn) going on methamphetamine.

Nationally, an estimated 11.1 tonnes of meth was consumed during the fourth year of the program, along with 5.6 tonnes of cocaine, 2.6 tonnes of ecstasy and one tonne of heroin.

The latest batch of data – which is gathered by testing sewage samples – covers about 56 per cent of Australia’s population, or approximately 13.2 million people.

Alcohol and nicotine remain the most consumed drugs in Australia, with methamphetamine the most consumed illicit drug.

The per capita consumption of cocaine and heroin in capital cities exceeded regional consumption. However, the per capita regional consumption of all other drugs exceeded that in capital cities.

ACIC chief executive officer Mike Phelan said: “In a year where COVID-19 has heavily impacted Australia as a whole, it has also had a marked impact on the illicit drug market.

“Drug markets are resilient. In the year to August 2020, the annual estimated consumption of cocaine, MDMA and heroin was at the highest level recorded by the program and the consumption of methamphetamine at the second-highest recorded level.

“That said, illicit drug consumption varied, with both record highs and record lows in regional and capital cities during the COVID-19 pandemic.

“Illicit drugs are debilitating, they are destroying lives and the fabric of many communities in Australia.

“Organised crime groups make money through whatever illegal means they can and profit from the importation, manufacture, trafficking and sale of drugs that cause harm to the community.

“Those involved in the illicit drug trade don’t care about the devastation caused through health and social costs, or drug-related crime.

“By measuring the level of consumption of illicit drugs and legal drugs with abuse potential, (we) can identify new sources of threat and (it can) be used as a key indicator of the harm posed.”