Cannabis, Meth & More: What Australia’s Wastewater Is Telling Us
- DASA
- Oct 22
- 3 min read
Updated: Oct 30
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has released Report 24 of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, offering a comprehensive snapshot of drug consumption across the country. Based on wastewater samples collected from 57 sites covering approximately 57% of the population, the report provides valuable insights into national and regional drug use patterns.
Overall Drug Consumption
In the 12 months leading up to August 2025, Australians consumed an estimated 22.2 tonnes of methylamphetamine, cocaine, MDMA, and heroin, marking a 34% increase compared to the previous year. This sharp rise highlights growing concerns about illicit drug use and its impact on public health and safety as well as workplace safety.
Key Findings
Cannabis is currently the most consumed illicit drug in Australia and its use is especially high in regional areas.
Methamphetamine is the most consumed illicit stimulant in Australia. Consumption levels remain high and stable, particularly in regional areas of the country.
Cocaine usage is more prevalent in metropolitan regions, reflecting social and economic factors.
Consumption of MDMA (Ecstasy) has rebounded after a pandemic-related decline, especially in urban nightlife settings.
Heroin use remains relatively low but steady, with slight increases in some metropolitan areas.
Notably, ketamine use has surged in regional and rural communities—a shift from its previous concentration in city nightlife scenes.
The report reveals distinct differences in drug use between metropolitan and regional areas. While cities tend to show higher consumption of cocaine, MDMA, and heroin, regional communities report greater use of methylamphetamine and, increasingly, ketamine.
Click here for the full report.
Workplace implications
Rising drug use, especially cannabis, methamphetamine, and ketamine, may reflect underlying stress, burnout, or mental health challenges among workers.
Employers should be proactive in offering mental health support, including access to counselling, Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs), and education about substance use
Increased use of stimulants and opioids raises concerns in industries where safety is critical—such as transport, construction, healthcare, and manufacturing.
Employers may need to review drug and alcohol policies, ensure clear procedures for testing, and provide training to managers and supervisors on how to identify an intoxicated worker.
With cannabis being the most consumed illicit drug, and some prescribed medications (like medicinal cannabis or ADHD stimulants) showing up in drug tests, workplaces must:
Clarify policies around prescribed substances.
Ensure privacy and fairness in testing procedures.
Educate staff on how to disclose legitimate prescriptions without stigma.
DASA has the expertise and experience to assist you in managing your drug and alcohol program. To find out how DASA can help improve health and safety in your workplace, get in touch via 1300 230 231 or email to info@dasa.net.au
FREE webinar - Want to learn more about ADHD and how it affects the workplace?
Join Associate Professor David Allen at 11am on Wednesday 12th November for our free webinar “Stimulants, Amphetamines, ADHD, Autism, Tylenol and Other Controversies: Implications for Workplaces and the Community”. Whether you're an employer, safety manager, or someone navigating ADHD personally, this session will offer valuable insights. Click here to register.
DASA (Drug and Alcohol Solutions Australia) is proud to be leading the way in workplace drug and alcohol testing services throughout Australia. Whether your need is for workplace drug and workplace alcohol testing, advice on drug and alcohol policy or ideas on how to communicate your workplace expectations, policies and procedures to your staff, DASA can help. We have the experience, technical expertise and people to lead you to the right solution.
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