CANBERRA - Australians' consumption of illicit drugs has increased to a record-high, a report has found.

Government agency the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) on Thursday published the 22nd report from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, which measures consumption of 12 different legal and illicit substances across Australia by analyzing samples of wastewater.

The latest report found there was record-high consumption of cocaine and methylamphetamine, also known as methamphetamine, in capital cities and regional areas and record nicotine consumption in regional areas

Based on samples collected from 56 sites between December 2023 and February 2024, the latest report found there was record-high consumption of cocaine and methylamphetamine, also known as methamphetamine, in capital cities and regional areas and record nicotine consumption in regional areas.

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Average consumption of cocaine, methylamphetamine, MDMA, MDA, ketamine, alcohol and tobacco increased in both capital cities and regional areas compared to the previous report while average cannabis consumption decreased in both.

Compared to countries in Europe, Asia, North and South America on a per capita basis, Australia ranked second out of 29 for methylamphetamine consumption, 20th of 32 countries for cocaine use and third of 20 countries for consumption of cannabis.

Heather Cook, chief executive of ACIC, wrote in the report that the data revealed disturbing trends.

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"Much of the harm Australians suffer at the hands of organised crime is due to illicit drugs. Groups engaged in illicit drug trafficking and production have no regard for our laws or the harms their trade causes. They are highly capable, well-resourced, resilient and increasingly transnational," she wrote.

The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program is used by health and law enforcement authorities to identify emerging trends and possible criminal networks