IT’S well known that smoking is more common among regional Victorians, but a report released last week shows we’re also more likely to consume a range of other legal and illegal drugs than Melbourne residents.
These include alcohol, cannabis, MDA, MDMA, meth and the painkillers fentanyl and oxycodone, according to the latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC).
The report is based on sampling for 12 drugs at 57 wastewater sites covering a population of 13.9 million Australians in December and February, and includes cannabis for the first time.
Acting ACIC chief executive officer Matt Rippon said the report showed criminals involved in drug trafficking were continuing to exploit Australians.
“Despite large seizures of some illicit drugs by law enforcement, the average consumption of methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, MDA, fentanyl and ketamine has increased in both capital city and regional sites,” Mr Rippon said.
In a comparison with 24 other countries, Mr Rippon said Australian per capita consumption of methylamphetamine – the most harmful of the illicit drugs – was the third-highest last year.
A “multi-dimensional approach” targeting supply, demand and harm reduction was critical for reducing the use of meth and other drugs in Australia, he said.
Victorian monitoring sites include two wastewater treatment plants in Melbourne and 10 in regional areas, including Lower Murray Water which services about 80,000 customers along the Murray River from Koondrook to the South Australian border.
Swan Hill police Inspector Gerard de Vries said he could not comment specifically on the report, but there had been no noticeable changes in the drugs of choice used in the Swan Hill area.
Insp de Vries said police continued to find crystal meth (also known as ice), heroin, cocaine, cannabis and prescription medicines that were being misused when they executed warrants to search buildings or in random intercepts of vehicles and people.
“The community does consume a wide variety of drugs,” he said.
“So while an individual may have a particular drug on them, when I look broadly across all the work we’ve done, it’s pretty consistent with other years.
“We haven’t had any particular spikes or drops in those offences.”
Anyone with information about drug trafficking is urged to contact Swan Hill police on 5036 1600 or Crimestoppers on 1800 333 000.
For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services, call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
