Key Takeaways
- Methamphetamine (ice) consumption in Australia almost doubled over the past decade, rising from 8,405 tonnes in 2023‑24 to a record 15,971 tonnes in 2024‑25.
- Australia ranks second globally for meth use, behind only the United States, and is the fifth‑highest consumer of the combined stimulant‑opioid basket (meth, cocaine, MDMA, heroin) per 1,000 people per day.
- Cocaine, ketamine and heroin also reached record national highs, with heroin showing the steepest regional jump—up 50 % in the Northern Territory.
- The combined market value of the four major illicit drugs climbed to A$14.3 billion, meth accounting for 77 % of total spending.
- Cannabis remains the most used illicit drug but showed a modest decline between 2024 and 2025.
- Regional areas continue to report higher use of meth, cannabis and oxycodone, while urban centres record elevated cocaine, heroin and ketamine consumption.
- Sharp increases were observed in Tasmania (+38 % meth), the Northern Territory (+36 % meth, +36 % cocaine, +50 % heroin) and the ACT (+30 % meth).
- Nicotine use edged up 4 % nationally, whereas alcohol consumption rose in regions but fell in capital cities.
- Authorities warn that persistent demand signals a lucrative market for transnational organised crime, requiring sustained, coordinated national and international responses.
Overview of Wastewater Monitoring Findings
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (Acic) released its latest annual wastewater analysis on Wednesday evening, having tested samples from 64 treatment plants nationwide between August 2024 and August 2025. This surveillance program, operational since 2016, provides an objective measure of community drug use by detecting metabolites excreted in sewage. The 2024‑25 report reveals unprecedented levels of stimulant and opioid consumption across both capital cities and regional centres, confirming a sustained upward trajectory in illicit substance use that aligns with law‑enforcement intelligence and health‑sector data.
Methamphetamine Consumption Trends
Methamphetamine, commonly known as ice, showed the most dramatic increase. Estimated national consumption jumped from 8,405 tonnes in the previous reporting period to 15,971 tonnes in 2024‑25—an increase of roughly 90 % and the highest figure recorded since the program’s inception. This surge surpasses earlier annual averages for both metropolitan and non‑metro areas, indicating that the drug’s reach has broadened beyond traditional user groups and geographic hotspots.
Global Ranking of Meth Use
When placed in an international context using data from the Sewage Core Group Europe (Score), which standardises wastewater testing across 34 nations, Australia emerged as the second‑largest consumer of methamphetamine worldwide, trailing only the United States. On a per‑capita basis, Australia ranked fifth for the combined daily dose of meth, cocaine, MDMA and heroin per 1,000 inhabitants, behind the US, Chile, Belgium and the Netherlands. These rankings underscore that Australia’s drug market is not only large domestically but also significant on the global stage.
Cocaine, Ketamine and Heroin Usage Surges
Beyond meth, other stimulants and opioids reached historic peaks. Cocaine consumption rose to 7,985 tonnes nationally, marking a record high. Ketamine use also attained its highest recorded level, while heroin consumption recorded record amounts in urban jurisdictions. The report notes that the largest annual percentage increases were observed for meth (23 %), heroin (23 %) and cocaine (20 %). These trends point to broadening demand across multiple drug classes rather than isolation to a single substance.
Total Illicit Drug Market Value
Acic translated the consumption figures into an economic estimate, finding that the combined market value of the four major illicit drugs—meth, cocaine, MDMA and heroin—increased from A$11.5 billion in 2023‑24 to a record A$14.3 billion in 2024‑25. Methamphetamine alone accounted for approximately 77 % of this total expenditure, reflecting both its high volume and relatively high street price. The ballooning market size illustrates the substantial financial incentives driving organised crime groups to maintain and expand supply chains.
Cannabis Consumption Decline
While cannabis remains Australia’s most widely used illicit drug, the wastewater data indicated a modest national decrease in its consumption between 2024 and 2025. This slight dip contrasts sharply with the upward trends seen for stimulants and opioids, suggesting a possible shift in user preferences or substitution effects, though cannabis prevalence still outweighs that of other illicit substances.
Regional versus Urban Consumption Patterns
The analysis revealed a clear divide between regional and metropolitan areas. Regional centres continued to exhibit higher per‑capita use of methamphetamine, cannabis and oxycodone, whereas capital cities recorded elevated levels of cocaine, heroin and ketamine. Sydney topped the list for ketamine use among all surveyed locales, highlighting localized market dynamics that may be influenced by nightlife, hospitality sectors, and distribution networks.
State‑Level Increases and Hotspots
Jurisdictional breakdowns exposed particularly sharp rises in certain states and territories. Tasmania experienced the largest annual increase in methamphetamine use at 38 %, followed closely by the Northern Territory (36 %) and the Australian Capital Territory (30 %). Cocaine use surged 36 % in the NT and 33 % in Western Australia. The Northern Territory also recorded a staggering 50 % jump in heroin consumption, while New South Wales saw MDMA consumption climb by 49 %. These spikes suggest that localized factors—such as policing resources, socioeconomic conditions, and proximity to trafficking routes—are shaping consumption patterns.
Emerging Substances and Organized Crime Threats
Acic’s chief executive, Heather Cook, warned that the data reflect “persistent, elevated demand for major drugs across jurisdictions” and signal the entry of new synthetic opioids into the Australian market. She emphasized that transnational organised crime groups remain highly innovative, leveraging record‑level global cultivation and manufacturing of cocaine and meth—particularly in the Americas and South‑East Asia—to feed Australia’s appetite. The scale of the market, as evidenced by wastewater volumes, demonstrates these groups’ determination to sustain supply chains despite law‑enforcement pressure.
Nicotine and Alcohol Trends
In addition to illicit substances, the report tracked legal psychoactives. Nicotine use increased by 4 % nationally over the reporting period, indicating a modest rise in tobacco or vaping consumption. Alcohol consumption displayed a regional split: it rose in non‑urban areas while declining in capital cities, possibly reflecting differing social habits, availability of licensed venues, or public‑health interventions targeting city‑centre drinking.
Policy Implications and Call for Coordinated Response
The findings reinforce the necessity for sustained, coordinated national strategies that combine law‑enforcement, health‑service, and border‑control efforts. Cook stressed that the statistics are not abstract; they translate into real harm manifested in hospital emergency departments, family disruption, and community safety concerns. Addressing the challenge will require constant vigilance, adaptive tools—such as real‑time wastewater analytics—and robust collaboration across federal, state, and territory agencies, as well as international partners tasked with curbing upstream production and trafficking. Only through an integrated approach can Australia hope to mitigate the growing public‑health and security burden posed by illicit drug markets.