Overview

• Australians consumed 22.2 tonnes of methylamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and MDMA between August 2023 and August 2024, equating to about $11.5 billion in street value.
• Methamphetamine dominated use at 12.8 tonnes and $8.9 billion, marking the highest annual level recorded by the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program.
• Year-on-year readings show a 69% jump in cocaine, a 49% rise in MDMA, a 21% increase in methamphetamine and a 14% gain in heroin, driving a 34% combined surge.
• The ACIC attributes the rebound to transnational and domestic organised crime groups rapidly re-establishing supply chains after COVID-19 border restrictions eased.
• Covering 57% of Australian waterways, the monitoring program underpins the commission’s call for coordinated demand reduction, supply disruption and harm-reduction strategies.