<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Australia's consumption of four illicit drugs has increased by a significant amount, the latest wastewater testing has revealed.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's (ACIC) latest wastewater report revealed that 22.2 tonnes of methylamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and MDMA were consumed between August 2023 to August 2024.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The results indicate a 34 per cent increase from previous years, driven by a massive increase in the consumption of illicit drugs. </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/world/how-donald-trump-and-vladimir-putin-relationship-evolved-since-first-meeting/828750e8-51ad-49a2-9236-6786230f1267" target="_blank"><strong><span>How Trump and Putin's relationship has evolved since they first met</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There was a 21 per cent increase in methylamphetamine usage, a 69 per cent increase in cocaine usage, a 49 per cent increase in MDMA usage and a 14 per cent increase in heroin usage.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>ACIC's annual survey covers 57 per cent of the country's waterways, with the goal of monitoring national drug use.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>They screen for methylamphetamine, amphetamine, cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA), 3,4-methylenedioxyamphetamine (MDA), heroin, cannabis, oxycodone, fentanyl, nicotine, alcohol, and ketamine.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/australians-are-consuming-a-lot-more-of-these-four-drugs/26afbacd-1621-47b1-8ca9-86eb5e17ff35" data-widget-id="AR_5"></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/police-arrest-19-people-over-alleged-melbourne-retail-theft-syndicate/ad718479-3b99-4339-8f2e-2e731c3235c7" target="_blank"><strong><span>Police smash alleged $10 million shoplifting network</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>ACIC CEO Heather Cook estimated the drugs detected had a total street value of $11.5 billion, with methylamphetamine accounting for $8.9 billion.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"The 2.2 tonne increase in national meth consumption is concerning because 12.8 tonnes is the highest annual level recorded by the program and the drug causes significant community harm," Cook said.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>"Similarly, there has been a large increase in national cocaine consumption, also to the highest annual level recorded by our wastewater program."</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>This is the first time that cocaine, heroin and meth have been consumed at record-high levels simultaneously since the wastewater screening program began.</span></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/western-australia-surrogacy-reforms-mitchell-and-james-werent-able-to-pursue-starting-a-family-until-today/4429d2a7-a3aa-4a98-bc63-989e2fd89c38" target="_blank"><strong><span>Mitchell and James are ready to start a family. Until now, one state wouldn't let them</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Alcohol and nicotine were the most consumed legal drugs.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Alcohol usage increased while nicotine usage decreased.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The report also found that cannabis was the most consumed illicit drug.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>There were higher consumption rates of marijuana in regional areas compared to metropolitan areas.</span></div></div>