Wastewater testing reveals Canberrans among largest opioid users in the country

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The use of opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone in Canberra is among the highest in the nation, a new report has found. Analysis of wastewater in the ACT from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission found the use of the pharmaceutical opioids was the second highest in the country. The findings of the report, the seventh of its type conducted by the commission, revealed Canberrans were the second highest users of cocaine in Australia, despite its use dropping in the capital. Wastewater from one ACT site was tested among 50 sites across the country in December. The survey covered more than half of the country’s population. The latest findings from the commission reveal the use of pharmaceutical opioids spiked in many parts of the country. The ACT and Tasmania recorded some of the largest increases. The use of prescription opioids such as fentanyl had their largest increase in the regional areas. The ACT recorded one of the largest upward spikes in fentanyl use in the country, along with parts of Victoria. Data shows that for every 1000 people in the ACT, about 15 doses of oxycodone and about 10 doses of fentanyl were taken every day. The report found methylamphetamine use in the ACT was also on the rise, with almost 30 doses consumed every day per 1000 people, with a rise also seen in many parts of regional NSW. While the highest cocaine use was centred around parts of Sydney, the ACT still had high use; there were about five doses a day per 1000 people in the national capital, a slight drop from the last reporting period. The commission’s chief executive, Michael Phelan, said the latest reporting period also showed a rise in MDMA consumption across city and regional areas and an increase in heroin use in capital cities. “While consumption of these drugs remain lower than other illicit drugs monitored by the program, these increases are of concern, with the related consumption at the highest level recorded by the program,” Mr Phelan said. “The Australian community continues to consume illicit drugs at concerning levels, and the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program is providing an important, unified and consistent guiding tool for developing holistic drug responses.” In Canberra, the average consumption of MDMA also increased to the highest use it’s been since February 2017. While heroin use increased, the average amount of cannabis used in Canberra dropped in the reporting period. Among legal drugs monitored in the program, alcohol consumption declined, while nicotine use was up.

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The use of opioids like fentanyl and oxycodone in Canberra is among the highest in the nation, a new report has found.

Analysis of wastewater in the ACT from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission found the use of the pharmaceutical opioids was the second highest in the country.

The wastewater report identified Canberrans as some of the largest prescription opioid users in the country. Picture: Patrick Sison

The findings of the report, the seventh of its type conducted by the commission, revealed Canberrans were the second highest users of cocaine in Australia, despite its use dropping in the capital.

Wastewater from one ACT site was tested among 50 sites across the country in December. The survey covered more than half of the country’s population.

The latest findings from the commission reveal the use of pharmaceutical opioids spiked in many parts of the country. The ACT and Tasmania recorded some of the largest increases.

The use of prescription opioids such as fentanyl had their largest increase in the regional areas.

The ACT recorded one of the largest upward spikes in fentanyl use in the country, along with parts of Victoria.

Data shows that for every 1000 people in the ACT, about 15 doses of oxycodone and about 10 doses of fentanyl were taken every day.

Canberrans were the second-largest users of cocaine, despite its use dropping.

The report found methylamphetamine use in the ACT was also on the rise, with almost 30 doses consumed every day per 1000 people, with a rise also seen in many parts of regional NSW.

While the highest cocaine use was centred around parts of Sydney, the ACT still had high use; there were about five doses a day per 1000 people in the national capital, a slight drop from the last reporting period.

The commission’s chief executive, Michael Phelan, said the latest reporting period also showed a rise in MDMA consumption across city and regional areas and an increase in heroin use in capital cities.

“While consumption of these drugs remain lower than other illicit drugs monitored by the program, these increases are of concern, with the related consumption at the highest level recorded by the program,” Mr Phelan said.

“The Australian community continues to consume illicit drugs at concerning levels, and the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program is providing an important, unified and consistent guiding tool for developing holistic drug responses.”

In Canberra, the average consumption of MDMA also increased to the highest use it’s been since February 2017.

While heroin use increased, the average amount of cannabis used in Canberra dropped in the reporting period.

Among legal drugs monitored in the program, alcohol consumption declined, while nicotine use was up.