Australians are using record amounts of the drug ketamine, prompting warnings from experts that it may be increasingly adulterated with dangerous substances as dealers try to keep up with rising demand.
The latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program (NWDMP) report, commissioned by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, looked at wastewater samples taken at 59 sites in April and June.
Researchers at the University of Queensland and the University of South Australia analysed the samples for the presence of drugs.
As expected, the heaviest concentrations found were of legal drugs: alcohol and nicotine.
However, consumption of both has gradually declined nationally over the past two years, with some geographic exceptions.
Nicotine use, for instance, was notably higher in regional areas than in capital cities, with particularly high levels in Hobart and throughout the Northern Territory.
Methylamphetamine use varies significantly across the country, with regional sites in South Australia, Western Australia, and one in Victoria showing notably higher consumption.
While current methylamphetamine use is above long-term average levels, it has not reached the peaks seen before the COVID-19 pandemic.
Cocaine use is highest in Sydney and other capital cities compared to regional areas. However, some regional sites in New South Wales and a site in Queensland also recorded relatively high readings.
Falling Cannabis Use, Low Opioid Consumption
MDMA use remained relatively low, while cannabis use varied across the country, being higher in regional areas.Several capital city sites recorded cannabis consumption below the national average. While the U.S. is grappling with an opioid crisis, Australia saw record-low regional consumption of oxycodone and fentanyl.
However, ketamine detection rates have hit record highs in both capital cities and regional areas, pointing to an escalation in use, which is causing concern.
The drug, once mainly obtained by theft from hospitals and veterinary clinics where it is used as an anaesthetic, is now more widely available.
A recent United Nations report found that its increasing availability “points to a possible expansion driven by large scale illicit manufacture” mostly in South East Asia.
In its pure form, ketamine relieves pain, has a hypnotic effect, and causes short-term memory loss. However, when sold illicitly is often mixed with other potentially dangerous substances.
It usually comes as a white or off-white powder but can also be made into pills or dissolved in a liquid.
The death of actor Matthew Perry has been attributed to high use of ketamine, particularly in his last month of life.
A mix of ketamine and MDMA, known as “pink cocaine,” has been associated with the recent death of former One Direction singer Liam Payne.
Brendan Clifford and Kathryn Fletcher, researchers at the National Centre for Clinical Research on Emerging Drugs at UNSW Sydney, warn that “In Australia, the purity of ketamine is highly variable. What you buy is likely to be cut with other substances, so it’s difficult to know what you’re getting and how it’s going to affect you.”
Some of what is sold as ketamine are “analogues,” or substances that have similar chemical structures to ketamine but produce different effects, and can take longer to affect the user, tempting them to take more and increasing the risk of an overdose.
“Worryingly, strong opioid drugs called nitazines have also been detected in ketamine in Australia,” the researchers said.
“Regular use of ketamine can lead to psychological dependence, where people feel a strong urge to use even though they may have begun to experience harmful effects.”
In addition to damaging the liver and brain, long-term use of ketamine can result in damage to the bladder, which can require surgery.
