THE latest findings from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program were released by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) last week and revealed regional Australia’s drug rates were higher than those of the city for some substances.

According to the report, across the country regional alcohol, nicotine, MDA, oxycodone, fentanyl and cannabis average consumption exceeded capital city consumption.

Victoria ranked first nationally in capital city MDMA consumption and second in heroin consumption and ketamine excretion, with regional Victoria ranked second nationally in consumption of nicotine, MDMA, heroin, and ketamine excretion.

As a state, Victoria took out the top spot for estimated heroin consumption from 2021-22, recording 479.3 kilograms - an increase of 13 per cent from the previous year - while New South Wales ranked second, recording 389.6kg and an increase of nine per cent from the previous year.

Victoria had the second highest estimated consumption of methylamphetamine in kilograms per annum from 2021-22, recording 2502.2kg (an increase of eight per cent from the previous year), while New South Wales recorded the highest with 2912.3kg (an increase of one per cent from the previous year).

Victoria’s estimated cocaine and MDMA consumption from 2021-22 was also the second highest in the country (860.6kg and 194.3kg respectively), with New South Wales again recording the highest (1622.9kg and 234.2kg respectively).

The report covered sampling in August and October 2022, consisting of 58 wastewater sites monitored nationally - covering approximately 57 per cent of the Australian population.

Of the 58 sites, Victoria saw two capital city wastewater sites and nine regional sites sampled, with each participating site allocated a unique code to de-identify their results to maintain confidentiality.

ACIC states wastewater analysis provides crucial information and intelligence on drug markets and serious and organised criminal activity, which supports the government in creating a safer country.

ACIC acting chief executive, Matt Rippon, said that much of the harm Australians suffer at the hands of organised crime was due to illicit drugs.

Across the country, more than 14 tonnes of methylamphetamine, cocaine, 3,4-methylenedioxymethylamphetamine (MDMA) and heroin was consumed from 2021-22 of the Program to August 2022, with an estimated street value of $10 billion.

The Program saw increases in national methylamphetamine and heroin consumption from the years 2020-21 to 2021-22, which Mr Rippon said was a troubling fact.

“This is a concerning amount, both in terms of economic cost - the actual expenditure on drugs - and the cost to the community - through violence, road trauma, property crime, illness, injury and deaths associated with illicit drug use,” he said.

“Illicit drugs and licit drugs with abuse potential are inherently harmful.

“Reliable drug consumption data are a key indicator of the level of harm experienced by the community.

“This is because the level of community harm is directly related to the quantity of substances consumed.”

Between April and August 2022, national consumption of methylamphetamine, cocaine, alcohol and nicotine decreased in both capital city and regional sites, while consumption of all other drugs monitored by the Program increased.

“The findings show methylamphetamine continues to be the most consumed illicit stimulant by some margin,” Mr Rippon said.

“We also saw record low national consumption of cocaine.”

The ACIC judges that the low level of cocaine consumption is primarily due to law enforcement seizures and detections which limited supply, as there is no tangible evidence of a reduction in demand.