Wastewater report finds Australians consuming more ketamine

Ketamine consumption increased across Australia in April, according to a new wastewater report that analyses sewage.

The(ACIC) has released its 23rd wastewater report, providing insight into Australia’s drug and alcohol consumption.

ACIC collected data in April and June 2024, representing more than half of Australia’s population.

It showed a decline in alcohol consumption across both the regions and the cities.

Methodology

Earlier this year, ACIC collected data from 59 wastewater sites across every state and territory.

Samples were collected fromfor a week in April and a week in June 2024.

Samples collected in April involved regional and metropolitan areas, while samples in June solely involved metropolitan areas.

Between December 2023 and April 2024, nicotine consumption decreased nationwide.

Alcohol consumption has been decreasing nationally over the past two years.

However, alcohol and nicotine were still the most consumed drugs. Consumption was higher in regional areas than the cities.

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In April this year, cannabis was the most consumed drug in Australia (excluding nicotine and alcohol).

Cannabis was consumed:

Four times more than methamphetamine (ice)

25 times more than

36 times more than heroin

Cannabis consumption in regional areas is roughly double the average consumption in capital cities.

In April 2024, heroin, ketamine, and fentanyl consumption was higher in capital cities than in regional areas, according to the wastewater report.

Fentanyl is a synthetic opioid. Opioids are a group of drugs that block pain messages to the brain and boost feelings of relaxation.

This is the first time on ACIC’s record that fentanyl consumption was higher in capital cities than in regional areas.