August 2025 Summary of Findings
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission has commissioned The University of Queensland, and through it the University of South Australia, to undertake the data collection and analysis that underpins the report.
The ACIC’s latest wastewater report reveals that 22.2 tonnes of methylamphetamine, cocaine, heroin and MDMA was consumed from August 2023 to August 2024. This is a 34% increase from the previous year, driven by increases in consumption of methylamphetamine (21%), cocaine (69%), MDMA (49%) and heroin (14%).
This increase reflects, in part, the recovery of these illicit drug markets following the impact of COVID-19 restrictions. Transnational and domestic serious and organised crime groups have rapidly re-established and expanded their operations, taking advantage of increased demand and evolving trafficking methods to supply these highly profitable markets.
“The 2.2 tonne increase in national meth consumption is concerning because 12.8 tonnes is the highest annual level recorded by the program and the drug causes significant community harm.
“Similarly, there has been a large increase in national cocaine consumption, also to the highest annual level recorded by our wastewater program,” said Ms Cook.
The increasing diversity of illicit drug markets in Australia is underlined by increased consumption of heroin, which also reached the highest annual level recorded by the program. Since the program began, this is the first time that the three drugs have been consumed at record high annual levels simultaneously.
Annual data over the life of the program shows that the latest consumption figures reflect a continuation of the increasing trajectory recorded up until the COVID-19 pandemic for methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin. ACIC data modelling suggests that the increases in drug consumption for methylamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA are likely to continue to 2027, though most likely not at the same rate observed during the year ended August 2024. In the case of heroin, the ACIC assesses the market is unlikely to change significantly for the next 2 years.