The Drug Foundation wants urgent action, with meth and cocaine consumption reaching record levels. 

Police wastewater testing between June and September reveals levels of both drugs were at the highest volumes recorded since the programme began six years ago. 

Chief Executive Sarah Helm says harm reduction, addiction and acute healthcare services all need to be prepared for an increase in need. 

She told Heather du Plessis-Allan they’ve been hearing anecdotally that there hasn’t been a growth in the number of people consuming the drugs – meaning there’s potentially a small number of people consuming a lot more of it.  

Helm says they’re really concerned we’ll be seeing a very acute harm, with hospitalisations, psychosis, heart health issues, and a growth in addiction. 

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