Sydney residents use more cocaine than residents of other Australian cities, whereas Melbourne residents dominated the nation in terms of the usage of three primary narcotics, and Darwin residents were the greatest drinkers and smokers.
In April and June 2022, the Australian Crime Intelligence Commission examined wastewater at 57 locations for evidence of 12 legal and illicit narcotics.
The results revealed which cities had the highest rates of usage for a variety of legal and illicit substances. The commission said that these findings apply to 14.1 million Australians.
Darwin residents scored #1 for cigarette and alcohol usage.
They smoked roughly 3.5 cigarettes per day on average, which is almost twice as many as people in capital cities nationwide take in normal beverages per day.
Meth consumption was the only illicit substance to rise in both major cities and rural regions of Australia (ice).
According to a research from July, Australians consume meth more often than people in 24 other nations combined.
On a list of other Asian, European, and Oceanian countries, Australia has the largest per-capita intake of the illegal substance.
While it remained consistent in the city, heroin usage increased in Australia’s rural regions.
The ACIC thinks that supply concerns are the most probable cause of the decline in use of all other substances, including cocaine, fentanyl, MDMA/MDA cannabis, and ketamine, which all occurred nationally.
The state-by-state information supported Sydney’s status as Australia’s cocaine capital.
Sydney residents consumed far above the national average for major cities—roughly 700mg per 1000 persons daily.
Regional Queensland rated top nationally for oxycodone usage, while Brisbane ranked first for the use of MDMA and MDA.
An opioid known as oxycodone is often prescribed and sold under the trade names Oxynorm, OxyContin, Endone, Proladone, or Targin.
According to the report’s findings, many Melburnians and Tasmanians use a variety of drugs at far greater rates than residents in other cities.
Melbourne inhabitants use meth, heroin, and ketamine at the highest rates in the country, and they also use cocaine at the second-highest rate.
In April, they used around 1.5 mg of meth per person per day, which is much more than the national average.
Their daily heroin use is far higher than the national average of 140mg, reaching over 270mg per 1,000 persons.
Perhaps even more drug users are residents of Hobart.
The Tasmanian capital is second only to London in terms of alcohol, nicotine, and ketamine usage, but first in terms of oxycodone, fentanyl, and cannabis use.
In terms of THC, their daily average was just over 40,000mg per 1,000 persons, or over 40mg per person.
Around 16,000, or 16mg per person, is the national average.
The primary psychotropic component of marijuana is THC.
According to ACIC CEO Michael Phelan APM, serious and organized criminal organizations continue to make money from the sale of narcotics that are harmful to the Australian population.
According to ACIC, money spent on drugs may be used far more wisely.
We are aware that illegal drug use has a huge negative impact on the Australian economy and that money might be better used for healthcare, education, and other purposes, Mr. Phelan said.
Understanding drug use at the population level helps with efficient resource allocation and provides information for successful demand, supply, and harm reduction measures. In order to combat drug usage in Australia, this is crucial.
Call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline at 1800 250 015 for free, private advice on alcohol and drug treatment programs.