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The Guardian - AU

National

Caitlin Cassidy

Australia’s use of methamphetamine has doubled in a decade, wastewater monitoring reveals

Australia United States Heroin Cocaine Alcohol NT

Bags of seized crystal methamphetamine on display — Wastewater testing in 2024-25 found that crystal meth consumption was at its highest recorded level since the program began in 2016. Photograph: Tracey Nearmy/AAP

Methamphetamine use in Australia has almost doubled in the past decade and stimulants are being taken at record highs, new wastewater monitoring reveals.

On Wednesday evening the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (Acic) released its latest annual report after testing wastewater samples from 64 treatment plants across the country between August 2024 and 2025.

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