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New figures from Australia’s national wastewater monitoring programme paint a stark picture of the country’s drug landscape. Methamphetamine use in Australia has nearly doubled over the past decade, with the latest annual data confirming consumption levels at their highest point since records began in 2016.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) released the findings on Wednesday evening, drawing on wastewater samples collected from 64 sewage treatment plants across the country between August 2024 and 2025. The results reveal not only record highs for crystal meth, commonly known as ice, but also for cocaine and ketamine, raising serious questions about the scale of harm unfolding quietly in homes and communities across the nation.
Ice Consumption Almost Doubles
The numbers are significant. Estimated ice drug consumption in Australia rose from 8,405kg to 15,971kg over the monitoring period, a 23% increase on the previous year alone. That figure places Australia as the second-highest consumer of methamphetamine in the world, behind only the United States, according to the Sewage Core Group Europe (Score), which tracks international wastewater data across 34 nations.
In per capita terms, Australia ranked fifth globally for combined consumption of methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin, sitting behind the US, Chile, Belgium and the Netherlands.
ACIC chief executive Heather Cook described the findings as a “stark reminder” that Australia remains a “lucrative target for transnational crime.”
“These aren’t abstract figures,” Cook said. “They represent real harm and real consequences playing out in hospitals, homes and communities across the country.”
Cocaine, Ketamine and Heroin Also Rising
Methamphetamine use in Australia is not the only cause for concern. Cocaine consumption also reached a record national high, with an estimated 7,985kg consumed in 2024 to 2025. Ketamine use hit new peaks as well, with Sydney recording the highest ketamine consumption of any monitored area in the country.
Heroin use, while far less widespread, reached record levels in capital cities, with the Northern Territory seeing the largest annual spike, a 50% increase year on year.
Overall, the total estimated consumption of the four major illicit drugs combined rose by a record 26.8 tonnes, representing a 21% increase on the previous year. The combined market value of these drugs climbed from $11.5 billion in 2023 to 2024 to a record $14.3 billion, with ice drug consumption in Australia accounting for 77% of total expenditure.
What Wastewater Data Can and Cannot Tell Us
Before drawing sweeping conclusions, it is worth understanding what wastewater monitoring actually measures. The method analyses sewage for traces of drugs that people have consumed and excreted, offering a near real-time snapshot of drug use that avoids the under-reporting typical of self-reported surveys.
However, it measures the volume of drugs consumed, not the number of individuals using them. A rise in methamphetamine use in Australia as detected through wastewater could mean more people are using the drug, or that the same individuals are using larger quantities more frequently. It cannot distinguish between the two.
Nor can wastewater data easily separate illicit drug use from legal prescriptions. There has been a notable increase in prescribed amphetamines for ADHD treatment in recent years. Experts note, however, that the scale of the increase recorded is unlikely to be explained by prescription use alone.
It is also worth noting that long-running population surveys have shown a decline in the proportion of Australians who use methamphetamine over the past 15 years. The picture is more nuanced than raw volume figures suggest: a smaller group of people appear to be using the drug more intensively, with harms concentrated among those most severely affected.
Regional Areas Carry a Heavier Burden
The data highlights persistent regional disparities. Ice drug consumption in Australia remains consistently higher per capita in regional communities compared to capital cities. Tasmania recorded the largest annual increase in methamphetamine use at 38%, followed by the Northern Territory at 36% and the Australian Capital Territory at 30%.
Experts caution that regional wastewater data can appear disproportionately high because a smaller population may be using drugs more heavily, and because visitors to regional areas, including festival-goers, can skew results temporarily. Regional communities also tend to have fewer treatment services, greater economic pressures and tighter social networks that can amplify both availability and harm.
Cocaine, heroin and ketamine use, by contrast, remained predominantly an urban concern.
A Resilient and Adaptable Drug Market
Perhaps the most sobering takeaway from the ACIC data is not the volume of any single drug, but what it reveals about the resilience of illegal drug markets overall.
Despite sustained law enforcement efforts and significant investment in supply disruption, markets have continued to grow. Australia’s high prices and strong demand make it an attractive destination for international criminal networks. When one supply route is cut off, another tends to emerge.
Cook noted that serious organised crime groups are “not only persistent but highly innovative,” and that the scale of the market demands “constant vigilance, evolving tools and strong collaboration across all jurisdictions.”
The report also flagged early signals of emerging substances entering the Australian market, including synthetic opioids, underscoring the need for monitoring systems and community responses that can keep pace with a rapidly shifting drug landscape.
The Case for Harm Reduction
Understanding trends in methamphetamine use in Australia matters not simply as a measure of criminal activity but because of the very real consequences for individuals and communities. More people are presenting to hospital emergency departments, more ambulance call-outs are being recorded, and treatment services are under increasing pressure.
The pattern emerging from the data suggests that a smaller group of Australians are experiencing increasingly severe problems with drug use. Reaching these individuals earlier, with more targeted support and treatment, is essential.
Supply-side enforcement alone has not reversed these trends. Addressing the scale of harm requires investment in evidence-based prevention, accessible treatment options and the kind of community support that can make a genuine difference in people’s lives.
(Source: WRD News)
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A comprehensive decade-long study examining drug and alcohol presence in Victorian road crashes has revealed alarming trends, with methylamphetamine emerging as the most prevalent illicit substance detected in both injured and fatally injured drivers between 2010 and 2019.The research, published in Injury Prevention and led by Monash University, represents the largest investigation of its kind conducted in Australia. Analysing data from 19,843 injured drivers and 1,596 fatalities, the findings paint a concerning picture of drug-impaired driving across Victoria’s roads.
Methylamphetamine Prevalence in Road Crashes Reaches Alarming Levels
The study found that methylamphetamine had the highest prevalence among Victorian drivers involved in crashes. Researchers detected the substance in 12.3% of fatalities and 9.1% of injured drivers, and these detections increased over time.
Taken together, these statistics underscore a growing public health and road safety challenge. In particular, methylamphetamine impairs cognitive function, reaction times, and decision-making abilities, all of which are critical for safe vehicle operation.
Multiple Substances Detected in Victorian Drivers
The research revealed that 16.8% of car drivers and motorcyclists tested positive for one or more drugs. Alcohol remained a significant factor, with 14% of crashes involving a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) at or exceeding 0.05%.
Cannabis (THC) emerged as another substance of concern, with detections rising amongst injured drivers until 2018. The study found THC detected in 8.1% of injured drivers and 15.2% of fatally injured drivers.
MDMA-positive driving decreased amongst injured drivers and remained stable at approximately 1% of fatalities throughout the study period.
Drug-Driving Patterns in Motorcyclists
Motorcyclists emerged as a particularly vulnerable population. Between 2015 and 2019, methylamphetamine was detected in 27.9% of motorcyclist fatalities, a figure substantially higher than the overall driver population. THC followed at 18.3%, with alcohol at or above 0.05% BAC detected in 14.2% of fatal motorcycle crashes. Similar but lower frequencies were observed amongst injured motorcyclists.
These elevated rates amongst motorcyclists warrant particular attention, as riders already face heightened vulnerability on roads due to reduced physical protection compared to enclosed vehicle occupants.
Alcohol Trends Show Mixed Results
The study documented a decline in alcohol detections (≥0.05% BAC) amongst fatalities. However, alcohol detections increased amongst injured motorcyclists and car drivers until plateauing in 2017. This mixed trend suggests that whilst fatal alcohol-related crashes may be decreasing, alcohol continues to contribute significantly to road trauma overall.
Demographics and Risk Factors
The research identified that there was a higher incidence of drug-positive driving amongst men and individuals aged between 25 and 59 years, alongside patterns of increasing drug use in motorcyclists.
Implications for Road Safety Prevention
The comprehensive data from the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine and Victoria Police provides robust evidence of persistent drug-impaired driving despite Victoria’s enhanced road safety measures.
Co-senior author Adjunct Associate Professor Dimitri Gerostamoulos from Monash University’s Department of Forensic Medicine and the Victorian Institute of Forensic Medicine stated that the findings confirm methylamphetamine, alcohol, and cannabis are the drugs that cause the most harm on Victorian roads.
The decade-long trends demonstrate that current prevention strategies require re-evaluation and strengthening. The study’s authors concluded that despite enhanced road safety measures in Victoria, drug-driving persists, indicating a need for revised prevention strategies targeting this growing issue.
Addressing the Drug-Driving Challenge
This research provides critical baseline data for policymakers, law enforcement, and public health officials working to reduce drug-driving incidents. The upward trajectory of methylamphetamine detections, combined with persistent alcohol involvement and rising cannabis presence, indicates that impaired driving prevention must remain a priority.
Understanding which substances most frequently impair drivers, and which demographic groups exhibit highest risk, enables targeted prevention initiatives. The particularly high rates of drug detection amongst motorcyclists suggest this group requires specialised attention in prevention messaging and enforcement strategies.
As Victoria continues developing its road safety framework, this evidence base highlights where authorities should concentrate prevention efforts to achieve meaningful reductions in drug and alcohol-related road trauma.
Read the full paper in Injury Prevention: https://injuryprevention.bmj.com/content/early/2025/01/17/ip-2024-045342
(Source: WRD News)
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(Note, it is NOT Cannabis – only one cannabinoid applied under therapeutic oversight that can aid in treating methamphetamine addiction)
Abstract: Cannabidiol (CBD), a non-psychoactive cannabinoid, shows great promise in treating methamphetamine (METH) addiction. Nonetheless, the molecular target and the mechanism through which CBD treats METH addiction remain unexplored. Herein, CBD was shown to counteract METH-induced locomotor sensitization and conditioned place preference. Additionally, CBD mitigated the adverse effects of METH, such as cristae loss, a decline in ATP content, and a reduction in membrane potential. Employing an activity-based protein profiling approach, a target fishing strategy was used to uncover CBD's direct target. ATP5A1, a subunit of ATP synthase, was identified and validated as a CBD target. Moreover, CBD demonstrated the ability to ameliorate METH-induced ubiquitination of ATP5A1 via the D376 residue, thereby reversing the METH-induced reduction of ATP5A1 and promoting the assembly of ATP synthase. Pharmacological inhibition of the ATP efflux channel pannexin 1, blockade of ATP hydrolysis by a CD39 inhibitor, and blocking the adenosine A1 receptor (A1R) all attenuated the therapeutic benefits of CBD in mitigating METH-induced behavioral sensitization and CPP. Moreover, the RNA interference of ATP5A1 in the ventral tegmental area resulted in the reversal of CBD's therapeutic efficacy against METH addiction. Collectively, these data show that ATP5A1 is a target for CBD to inhibit METH-induced addiction behaviors through the ADO–A1R signaling pathway.
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Recent research from Australia’s National Drug and Alcohol Research Centre reveals troubling findings about methamphetamine use in opioid treatment programmes. The comprehensive study, spanning from 2014 to 2024, highlights persistent challenges facing individuals receiving opioid agonist treatment (OAT) and their vulnerability to concurrent dual addiction.
Stable Yet Concerning Rates of Stimulant Abuse
The decade-long study examined data from Australia’s Illicit Drug Reporting System (IDRS), revealing that approximately 70% of people receiving opioid agonist treatment also reported recent methamphetamine use. This figure has remained remarkably stable over the ten-year period, despite fluctuations in overall OAT participation rates.
The persistence of these statistics suggests that current treatment approaches may not adequately address the complex needs of individuals struggling with multiple substance dependencies. This dual addiction pattern presents significant challenges for healthcare providers and treatment programmes across Australia.
Treatment Type Influences Methamphetamine Use in Opioid Treatment
The research identified notable differences in stimulant use patterns depending on the type of opioid replacement therapy received. Patients receiving methadone showed the lowest rates of concurrent methamphetamine use at 64%, compared to those on other treatments:
- Oral buprenorphine (Subutex): 74%
- Oral buprenorphine-naloxone (Suboxone): 79%
- Long-acting injectable buprenorphine: 84%
These findings suggest that methadone may offer certain protective factors against methamphetamine use in opioid treatment settings, though the mechanisms behind this difference require further investigation.
Demographics and Risk Factors for Dual Addiction
The study revealed concerning demographic patterns amongst those using both opioids and methamphetamines. Methamphetamine use in opioid treatment was significantly associated with:
- Younger age (median age 46 versus 52 years)
- Higher rates of housing instability (25% versus 14%)
- Higher prescribed doses of opioid medications
- Reduced access to take-home medications
These findings highlight the vulnerability of younger adults in treatment programmes and underscore the connection between social instability and polysubstance abuse. Housing insecurity appears particularly problematic, affecting one in four individuals with concurrent dual addiction.
Implications for Treatment Success
The research raises important questions about treatment effectiveness and programme design. Participants reporting methamphetamine use in opioid treatment demonstrated patterns suggesting more complex addiction profiles, including higher medication doses and reduced treatment flexibility through take-home arrangements.
Interestingly, despite these challenges, treatment satisfaction levels remained similar between groups, suggesting that patients may not recognise the additional risks posed by concurrent dual addiction. This finding emphasises the importance of comprehensive education and support within treatment programmes.
The Need for Enhanced Treatment Approaches
These findings highlight significant gaps in current addiction treatment models. The persistent 70% rate of concurrent stimulant use suggests that traditional opioid replacement therapy alone may be insufficient for many patients. Healthcare providers and policymakers must consider developing more comprehensive treatment strategies that address methamphetamine use in opioid treatment simultaneously.
The research emphasises the importance of addressing underlying social factors, particularly housing stability, which appears strongly linked to treatment outcomes. Programmes that integrate social support services alongside medical treatment may prove more effective in preventing dual addiction.
Combating Methamphetamine Use in Opioid Treatment: Prevention Strategies
The stability of these concerning statistics over a decade demonstrates the urgent need for enhanced prevention strategies. Early identification of risk factors (particularly among younger patients and those experiencing housing instability) could enable more targeted interventions before methamphetamine use in opioid treatment becomes established.
Treatment programmes must evolve to recognise and address the complex interplay between opioid dependence, stimulant abuse, and social circumstances. Only through comprehensive, individualised approaches can we hope to break the cycle of dual addiction and improve long-term recovery outcomes.
The research underscores that successful addiction treatment requires more than medical intervention alone. It demands a holistic approach addressing the social, psychological, and environmental factors that contribute to sustained recovery. (Source: U.N.S.W.)
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Trait anger as a predictor of dangerous driving behaviour amongst people who use methamphetamine
“Methamphetamine is now the most common illicit substance detected among drivers injured or killed due to road trauma in Australia
Drivers affected by (meth)amphetamine are five times more likely to be killed, and over 6-times more likely to be injured in a traffic crash; more than double the risk reported for common impairing drugs such as benzodiazepines Perhaps unsurprisingly, people who use methamphetamine are also overrepresented in road trauma incidents requiring emergency care. Amphetamine-intoxicated drivers are up to 19 times more likely to be deemed responsible (culpable) for a motor vehicle collision compared to non-drug users, and they are significantly more likely to die as a result
Despite a reduction in self-reported use (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2024) objectively, methamphetamine consumption in Australia continues to rise. Consequently, Australia now has one of the highest documented rates of methamphetamine use per capita, and the highest global age-standardised prevalence of (meth)amphetamine dependence.”
Conversely, low-to-moderate doses of methamphetamine can improve select, unidimensional psychomotor skills ostensibly related to driving, such as attention and perceptual processing speed however, this limited beneficial effect appears to be extinguished (and even maladaptive) at higher doses or during complex tasks or those requiring multi-tasking .
Negative emotionality and heightened levels of aggression are a pervasive, if largely anecdotal observation of individuals who consume methamphetamine. Individuals who consume methamphetamine cite elevated levels of self-reported aggression compared to drug-free controls.
Key Take-aways
- Methamphetamine is increasingly implicated in serious road-traffic incidents.
- Examining psychosocial factors may help identify predictors of dangerous driving behaviour.
- Licensed individuals who report predominant methamphetamine use were recruited.
- Trait Anger strongly and positively predicted dangerous driving behaviour in this cohort.
- Stable negative-emotional factors may increase harm through situational reactivity.
(Source: Science Direct)