Wastewater results show high levels of fentanyl consumption in regional Queensland

The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission today released the seventh report of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, revealing that Queensland, together with South Australia, reported the highest average regional consumption of fentanyl nationally.

Across the nine sites monitored in the state in December 2018—three capital city and six regional sites—wastewater data shows Queensland also had the second highest average regional consumption of cocaine, MDMA, MDA and oxycodone in the country.

Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Chief Executive Officer, Mr Michael Phelan APM said the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program gives valuable insight into the trends and emerging issues of drug consumption across Australia and can identify new sources of threat.

“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,” Mr Phelan said.

“We are only now starting to realise the full benefits of the ongoing program.”

The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program found that, compared to August 2018, of the substances tested in December 2018 in Queensland:

· average nicotine consumption decreased in capital city sites and increased in regional sites

· average alcohol consumption decreased in both capital city and regional sites

· average methylamphetamine consumption decreased in both capital city and regional sites

· average cocaine consumption decreased in both capital city and regional sites

· average MDMA consumption increased in both capital city and regional sites

· average MDA consumption increased in both capital city and regional sites

· average oxycodone consumption increased in both capital city and regional sites

· average fentanyl consumption increased in both capital city and regional sites

· average heroin consumption decreased in capital city sites and increased in regional sites

· average cannabis consumption increased in capital city sites and decreased in regional sites.

In 2019, the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program received an additional $4.8 million to fund a further four years of the program. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission will continue to develop its potential over the coming years and deliver three reports per annum.

The report is available from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission website: www.acic.gov.au

/Public Release.