Wastewater testing in 2024-25 found that crystal meth consumption in Australia was at its highest recorded level since the program began in 2016. The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (Acic) released its latest annual report after testing samples from 64 treatment plants across the country between August 2024 and 2025.
Methamphetamine Use Doubles in a Decade
The report revealed that consumption of crystal meth, also known as ice, rose from 8,405kg to 15,971kg, exceeding previous annual averages in both capital cities and regional areas. Australia has become the second highest consumer of meth in the world, trailing only the United States, according to the Sewage Core Group Europe (Score) of 34 nations.
Cocaine and Other Drugs at Record Levels
Cocaine consumption also reached record highs nationally, with 7,985kg consumed in 2024-25. Ketamine use also hit record levels, while heroin consumption reached record highs in cities. The total estimated consumption of meth, cocaine, MDMA, and heroin increased by 26.8kg, a 21% increase on the previous year.
Market Value Surges
The total market value of the four major illicit drugs increased from $11.5bn in 2023-24 to a record $14.3bn, with meth representing 77% of total expenditure. Acic chief executive Heather Cook said the findings showed "persistent, elevated demand for major drugs across jurisdictions" and pointed to "clear signals of emerging substances entering the Australian market", including synthetic opioids.
Regional vs Urban Consumption
Regional areas continued to consume meth, cannabis, and oxycodone at higher levels than capital cities, while cocaine, heroin, and ketamine use was consistently higher in urban areas. Sydney recorded the highest ketamine use. Tasmania recorded the largest annual increase in meth use (38%), followed by the Northern Territory (36%) and the Australian Capital Territory (30%).
Other Findings
While cannabis remained Australia's most consumed illicit drug, usage decreased nationally between 2024 and 2025. Nicotine use increased by 4% nationally, while alcohol consumption increased in regions but decreased in capital cities. Cook emphasized that the report was a "stark reminder" that Australia remained a "lucrative target for transnational crime".
