Illegal Drugs in Australia are Booming

The Reserve Bank of Australia is worrying about the sluggish economy and slowing levels of consumption of Australian citizens.

But there is one thing that Australians are spending a lot on…and that’s illegal drugs.

Banknote spending on illegal drugs in Australia

An RBA investigation into the use of Australia’s banknotes shed light on the illicit drugs purchasing habits of Australians.

The illicit drugs market has been running well. Citizens spent $13.5 billion on illegal drugs in Australia over a 12 month period ending August 2017.

An estimated two percent of the country’s banknotes actually go into spending for illicit drugs.

Methamphetamine and cannabis account for over 70 percent of purchases of illegal drugs in Australia. 

Moreover, researchers calculated that the stock of actual notes used in drug purchases was a little over $1 billion. Taking into account how the same note tends to change hands.

Furthermore, the study reveals Australian drug users’ preference for 50 dollar notes and face-to-face transactions.

Wastewater analysis

As per the latest findings of the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, here are the illegal drugs in Australia according to popularity:

1. Methamphetamine ( meth or ice )
2. Cannabis
3. Cocaine
4. MDMA (ecstasy)
5. Heroin

The report traced the presence of a dozen illegal and legal drugs in 45 sites across Australia, which covers 50 percent of the population or approximately 12.8 million Australians.

The study tracks usage in October of last year and again in December.

The goal of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission is to determine the extent of the demand and the location of illegal drugs in Australia.

Regional and metropolitan drug preference

According to the Federal Minister for Law Enforcement and Cybersecurity Angus Taylor, “We now know about 8.4 tonnes of ice, of methamphetamine, is consumed in Australia this year. This continues to be a significant problem because it was minimal only a few short years ago.”

Cocaine continues to be a bigger problem in cities. In the same way that methamphetamine is in regional areas.

Wastewater analysis results show that methamphetamine or ice is popular in Adelaide, Perth, and Queensland, while cocaine is the preference of people from Sydney and New South Wales. 

Protect your business and employees from illicit drugs in Australia

You have seen the recent studies pointing to the worsening drug epidemic in Australia. Clearly, the risks of a drug-related incident occurring in your workplace are increasing. 

There has never been a better time to implement a drug and alcohol workplace policy. And the best policies include employee drug testing. 

As an employer, you are legally bound to provide a safe workplace for your employees.

If you need help with building a workplace drug and alcohol policy, feel free to reach out to us. Our Drug-Safe team will help you maintain a drug-safe workplace.