Emma Jarvis: Alcohol, not meth, is our community’s most harmful drug

Drug use is on the rise across Australia. Consumption of hard drugs such as methylamphetamine, cocaine, ketamine and fentanyl increased in both metro areas and the regions in December 2022 and February 2023. Legal drugs aside, cannabis is the most consumed drug by a large margin with its consumption being at least double that of methylamphetamine throughout the time that both substances have been measured by the wastewater program.

The latest findings by the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program makes a point of stating methylamphetamine remains the most harmful illicit drug in Australia. But I am curious about this pointed call out. Palmerston treatment data correlates to some degree, but our statistics show alcohol continues to be the primary drug of choice which clients are seeking treatment for, followed by methamphetamine and cannabis. It highlights that not enough is being done to prevent the unacceptable growing harms fuelled by alcohol in our community.