A surge in the use of East Coast drugs — such as cocaine and heroin — needs to be investigated by Police, Premier Roger Cook says, as new wastewater analysis shows an alarming increase in their use.
New wastewater data results released on Thursday show rates of cocaine and heroin usage in WA skyrocketed to record highs late last year, on top of climbing rates of methamphetamine use.
The new report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission shows cocaine and heroin consumption spiked massively last year in Perth to levels never before seen.
The findings — contained in the ACIC’s latest National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program report — show in December last year, more than 350mg of cocaine was consumed across Perth per day per 1000 people, the highest ever recorded since the ACIC’s wastewater study began in 2016.
Mr Cook said Police would need to look into the report’s results on cocaine and heroin, describing them as concerning.
“This is basically samples that are taken from our wastewater facilities to detect very small, infinitesimal levels of drugs as a way of providing a model to build up a picture about the presence of those drugs in our community,” Mr Cook said.
“We’ve all witnessed, regrettably, over the years that Western Australia has a high degree of meth use, particularly in regional Western Australia, but cocaine, heroin and other drugs have tended to be more on the east coast.
“Obviously, the police will need to continue to look at this evidence in his information to see what else we can do to stamp out illicit drugs in our community.”
Meth usage rates in regional WA areas also spiked last year — reaching more than 2200mg per day per 1000 people — up from 1800mg per day that was recorded in August last year.
A total of 56 wastewater treatment plants — including seven in WA — were analysed for the latest ACIC study.
Mr Cook defended his government’s approach to drug use reduction.
“In Western Australia, you’ve seen record levels of confiscation and arrests associated with the drug effort,” he said.
“We know that there will continue to be drugs in our community, and we know that people will continue to try and take advantage of vulnerable people in the community by selling them illicit drugs.
“The police are continuing to work hard, and we’ve seen significant levels of comfort of drug confiscations. We’ve seen significant levels of arrests, but the fight will continue.”