Australian city named as the meth capital of the world
<p>A study monitoring illicit drug use around the world has found Adelaide to have the highest methamphetamine use out of 120 cities.</p>
<p>The research, published in the journal <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2019/10/191023093445.htm" target="_blank"><em>Addiction</em></a> on Wednesday, analysed wastewater samples from 37 countries in a seven-year project.</p>
<p>Data collected in Adelaide over a one-week period in 2017 showed between 507 and 659 milligrams of methamphetamine or “ice” per 1,000 people each day, compared with between 270 and 331mg in Canberra and Toowoomba.</p>
<p>The findings followed the <a href="https://acic.govcms.gov.au/media-centre/media-releases-and-statements/wastewater-results-show-high-levels-methylamphetamine-fentanyl-and-cannabis-consumption-south">Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s June report</a>, which revealed Adelaide as the methamphetamine capital of the nation.</p>
<p>Despite the staggering record, the prevalence of methamphetamine has declined since the study was conducted, said one of the study’s lead authors Dr Richard Bade.</p>
<p>“To put into a bit of context, the study was from 2017 and in fact since that time methamphetamine use in South Australia has actually been on the decrease,” Bade told the <em><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-10-24/adelaide-had-highest-meth-use-in-cities-in-world-study/11633416">ABC</a></em>.</p>
<p>“And there's been plenty of initiatives around that reduction of methamphetamine use in Adelaide [since 2017].”</p>
<p>The city coming closest to Adelaide’s levels was Seattle, with a 418mg average over a three-year monitoring period.</p>
<p>The report said cocaine use increased across Europe, with London, Bristol, Amsterdam, Zurich, Geneva, St Gallen and Antwerp having the highest levels of between 600 to 900mg per 1,000 people.</p>
<p>Canberra had a significantly higher cocaine use than the other two Australian cities.</p>
<p>The Netherlands recorded the highest use of ecstasy, also known as MDMA.</p>
<p>“It’s important we determine the scale of the illicit drug market so that countries can work out the best way to tackle a $100 billion industry, which is contributing to the global burden of disease and affecting the economic development of many countries,” Bade said.</p>
