Australia has a drug problem and it's that we can't get enough

The report says the use of cocaine in Australia and New Zealand remains the "highest worldwide", while ecstasy (MDMA) use remains "by far the highest worldwide".

But methamphetamine has become the main drug of concern in Oceania, as around 40 per cent of those in drug-related treatment are being treated for methamphetamine use disorders.

"The annual prevalence of methamphetamine use in the general population of Australia has fallen but among users consumption has become more intensive and is causing greater harm to health," the report said.

Wastewater analysis shows an increase in methamphetamine consumption in Australia up until April 2020, followed by a decline over the period 2020-2022, possibly linked to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Indicators show that cocaine use and associated harm increased in Australia between 2010 and 2021, although the harm from cocaine remains lower than from other stimulants.

Australia and New Zealand is the "sub-region" with the highest prevalence of "ecstasy" use in the world.

"The COVID-19 pandemic has had a more lasting impact on the ecstasy market in Australia than in New Zealand," the report said.

"The use of ecstasy has declined since the onset of the pandemic, due to market factors such as reduced availability."

In 2011, the annual prevalence of opioid use in Oceania was 3.03 per cent, while in 2021 that number fell to 2.39 per cent.

Sub-regions with a relatively high prevalence of past year opioid use include North America, near and Middle East, South-West Asia and Oceania, according to the report.

Cannabis use is also significantly higher in Australia than the global average, with prevalence of use exceeding 10 per cent.

The prevalence of cannabis use among school students aged 15-16 is also relatively high in Oceania at 17 per cent, compared with the global average of 5.3 per cent.

IN OTHER NEWS:

The new data put the global estimate of people who injected drugs in 2021 at 13.2 million, 18 per cent higher than previously estimated.

Globally, over 296 million people used drugs in 2021, an increase of 23 per cent over the previous decade.

Meanwhile, the number of people who suffer from drug use disorders skyrocketed to 39.5 million, a 45 per cent increase over 10 years.

Youth populations are the most vulnerable to using drugs, according to the report.

In Africa, 70 per cent of people in treatment are under the age of 35.

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) executive director Ghada Waly said "we are witnessing a continued rise in the number of people suffering from drug use disorders worldwide, while treatment is failing to reach all of those who need it.

"Meanwhile, we need to step up responses against drug trafficking rings that are exploiting conflicts and global crises to expand illicit drug cultivation and production, especially of synthetic drugs, fueling illicit markets and causing greater harm to people and communities."