Response to Drug Summit recommendations now urgent after Wastewater Report shows record drug use levels for NSW: Greens
With the latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program report showing record drug use levels for New South Wales, including for cocaine, meth and heroin, Greens MP and drug harm reduction spokesperson Cate Faehrmann has called on the government to stop delaying action on reforming drug laws and prioritising harm reduction.
Between August 2023 and August 2024, Australians consumed an estimated 22.2 tonnes of methamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA and heroin, the highest combined amount since the program began in 2016 and a 34% jump in just 12 months.
NSW recorded some of the highest consumption rates in the country, including:
- Cocaine: Sydney recorded the highest capital city cocaine use in the nation.
- Heroin: NSW regional areas had the highest heroin consumption nationally.
- Methamphetamine: Use increased 10% in NSW to more than 3.6 tonnes in a year.
“The delay in reforming our drug laws to save lives is inexcusable,” said Cate Faehrmann.
“The findings and recommendations of the two-year Ice Inquiry were handed to the former government in January 2020. More than five years later and meth use has skyrocketed, which anyone could have predicted because the Premier is too weak to do what’s necessary to save lives.
“Sydney’s cocaine habit is higher than ever, cementing its title as the cocaine capital of Australia. We’re talking a billion-dollar market fuelling organised crime, driving violence and costing lives.
“We’re seeing the results of the same tired approach by successive governments: more police, more arrests, more wasted taxpayers money and more clogged courts while the drugs keep pouring in.
Nationally, the report found:
- Methamphetamine use increased by 21% to 12.8 tonnes – the highest ever recorded.
- Cocaine use surged by 69% to 6.8 tonnes – also a record high.
- MDMA use jumped 49% to 1.43 tonnes, and heroin rose 14% to 1.14 tonnes – both record highs.
- The estimated street value of these drugs was $11.5 billion, with nearly 80% from methamphetamine alone.
“This is the strongest evidence yet that the so-called ‘war on drugs’ is a catastrophic and costly failure,” said Ms Faehrmann.
“Despite record police seizures and billions poured into enforcement, more people are using more drugs than ever before. The only winners are the organised crime bosses raking in billions.”
Ms Faehrmann said the findings should be a wake-up call for both the NSW and Federal Governments.
“We need to stop treating people who use drugs as criminals and start treating this as the health and social issue that it is. That means fully funding treatment, expanding harm reduction services like pill testing and safe injecting centres, and fixing our broken drug diversion laws," she said.
“Every day the Minns Government kicks the can down the road instead of introducing the sensible measures that experts have been calling for for years now is another day that lives are wrecked because of their inaction,” said Cate Faehrmann.