<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australians are consuming record amounts of illicit drugs, with new data revealing the country now ranks among the highest users of methamphetamine in the world.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Fresh wastewater data shows Australia sits second out of 34 countries for per capita meth use, behind the United States.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The analysis reveals that methamphetamine consumption has doubled over the past decade, emerging as the country's dominant illicit stimulant.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/groceries-prices-inflation-coles-woolies-supermarket-prices/a0b3c54b-ac98-41cd-9132-879fe1663b42" rel="" target="" title="A basic Aussie need is crippling families. The worst is yet to come"><strong><span>A basic Aussie need is crippling families. The worst is yet to come</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program has published its </span><a href="https://www.acic.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-04/National%20Wastewater%20Drug%20Monitoring%20Program%20-%20Report%2025.PDF" rel="" target="" title="latest annual report"><span>latest annual report</span></a><span>, analysing samples collected from 64 treatment plants between August 2024 and 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The figures highlight a jump in methylamphetamine usage from 8.4 tonnes in 2016 to a record 15.7 tonnes in 2025.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>It now accounts for 59 per cent of the total weight of the four major illicit drugs tracked: meth, cocaine, MDMA and heroin.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/record-high-cocaine-meth-drugs-australian-criminal-intelligence-commission/691afd3d-e805-45a7-a271-1482f9d81ef8" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Regardless of the high cost, demand has shown little sign of easing. The street value of meth ingested in a single year has climbed to $11.05 billion, making up most of the nation's $14.3 billion illicit drug market.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Use remains higher in regional areas than in capital cities, continuing a long-standing trend. Regional Western Australia recorded the highest levels overall, while Adelaide, Melbourne and Perth ranked among the highest for capital city consumption.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ACIC attributes the ongoing demand to well-organised supply networks run by serious and organised crime groups, which continue to move large quantities into the country.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>FOLLOW LIVE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/us-politics-live-iran-israel-middle-east-war-king-charles-state-visit-pete-hegseth-nuclear-claims/2440cfff-6a9d-4ea5-897c-b69111c07a43"><strong><span>Iran mocks Trump with threat that could smash global market</span></strong></a><span></span></div></div><div class="player__video-container"><img alt="" src="https://imageresizer.static9.net.au/sGqHd5OjqJFKanfMtKNZsLdA8gc=/750x0/https%3A%2F%2Fvms-network-images-prod.s3-ap-southeast-2.amazonaws.com%2F2025%2F12%2F742941%2Fpickerimage.jpg"/></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Across the states and territories, New South Wales remains the nation's largest market for methamphetamine by total weight, while also recording the highest average consumption of cocaine and heroin.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>However, the most aggressive growth is often seen elsewhere; Queensland recorded a notable spike in meth usage this year, while regional Western Australia maintained the highest per capita consumption levels in the nation.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Beyond methamphetamine, the data points to a broader uptick across multiple substances, with cocaine, MDMA, and heroin all reaching record levels over the past year.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The ACIC warns this trajectory is unlikely to reverse in the near term, with modelling suggesting consumption of methamphetamine, cocaine, and MDMA will continue to rise through to 2027.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline 1800 250 015</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>Support for families and friends of individuals experiencing alcohol or drug dependency:</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.fds.org.au/" rel="" target="" title=""><strong><span>Family Drug Support Australia</span></strong></a><span> </span><strong><span>24/7 Support Line – 1300 368 186</span></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><em><span>NEVER MISS A STORY:</span></em></strong><span> </span><strong><em><span>Get your breaking news and exclusive stories first by following us across all platforms.</span></em></strong></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><ul><li><strong><em><span>Download the 9NEWS App here via</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU&amp;pli=1" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Make 9News your preferred source on Google by</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://9.nine.com.au/8x987w" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>ticking this box here</span></em></strong></a></li><li><strong><em><span>Sign up to</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://login.nine.com.au/edm?client_id=nineatnine" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>our breaking newsletter here</span></em></strong></a></li></ul></div></div>