ACIC Wastewater report shows big spike in cocaine and heroin use last year, but GHB remains a concern

WA’s thirst for deadly drugs such as heroin and cocaine reached record levels late last year — a bombshell new report shows. It comes amid fears more people in Perth are also falling victim and needing urgent medical treatment after taking the horror date-rape drug GHB — also known as “fantasy.” The new report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission shows cocaine and heroin consumption spiked massively last year in Perth to levels never before seen. The findings — contained in the ACIC’s latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program report — show in December last year more than 350mg of cocaine was consumed across Perth per day per 1000 people, the highest ever recorded since the ACIC’s wastewater study began in 2016. Cocaine use in regional WA also rose last year to record levels not seen before by the ACIC. The report also reveals there was a massive spike in heroin consumption across Perth over the same period. In December, about 160mg of heroin was consumed across Perth per day per 1000 people, well above the national average and a staggering 170 per cent increase on the previous reporting period. Meth usage rates in regional WA areas also spiked last year — reaching more than 2200mg per day, per 1000 people — up from 1800mg per day that was recorded in August last year. A total of 56 wastewater treatment plants — including seven in WA — were analysed for the latest ACIC study. Those 56 facilities cover about 55 per cent of Australia’s population. The data contained in the report has been described as “concerning” by ACIC principal advisor Shane Neilson. Mr Neilson said the latest findings were a clear indicator offshore organised crime gangs were still hitting Australia and WA hard. “We are very profitable for them (organised crime gangs) and that’s the concern,” Mr Neilson said. “Because we have high per capita consumption, we have relatively high incomes in this country compared to many other countries and Australian drug users are paying premium prices for these drugs. “So it makes it worthwhile for the organised crime groups to attempt to supply here.” Mr Neilson said WA’s significant spike in heroin usage last year would be investigated further in collaboration with WA Police. “It’s certainly one (finding) we are going to monitor closely,” he said. Royal Perth Hospital emergency physician and clinical toxicologist Jessamine Soderstrom told The West Australian this week that GHB-related presentations at RPH — as opposed to heroin-related presentations — were a far more common sight for doctors currently. “The most common presentations ... is still methamphetamine followed by GHB,” Dr Soderstrom said. “When it comes to GHB, we are definitely seeing an increasing number of presentations. “If you take too much GHB, the main thing it causes is (falling into a) coma, so it is really important that you seek medical attention and get help.” GHB was originally developed as an anaesthetic and slows down messages travelling between the brain and body. It is often used in shocking date rape cases because it is typically odourless and colourless and can make people uncoordinated and unconscious. An investigation by The West last year found the GHB drug could be bought on the streets of Perth for as little as $5. In a statement, WA Police said it was working with national and international partners to make it as “difficult as possible to bring illicit drugs into Western Australia.” “Criminal syndicates are constantly trying to find new ways to conceal their drugs and cash during transit, however we continue to adapt to their new methodologies and use our intelligence holdings and the latest technologies to identify and seize their illicit cargo,” a spokesperson for the force said. “Drugs like heroin, cocaine and methylamphetamine have a devastating effect on the community at all levels, whether that’s assaults, burglaries, drug driving, right through to the health impacts drug use has. “We will continue to use every resource at our disposal to keep the community safe and hold to account those willing to take the risk on bringing illicit drugs to our State.”