A STATE Government trial that tested wastewater for the presence of meth showed about two tonnes of the addictive drug were consumed each year, at a street value of about $2 billion.
Testing started in July 2015 at three wastewater treatment plants which service about 1.52 million residents.
Deputy Premier and Police Minister Liza Harvey said the testing, which occurred across Perth, Bunbury and Geraldton, gave the most accurate data yet on meth consumption levels and trends.
“The data will help inform the State Government’s Western Australian Meth Strategy 2016 which tackles meth on three fronts – education to stop people from ever using this insidious drug; support and treatment services to help people who are impacted by meth; and disrupting supply,” she said.
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READ NOWTesting across the Perth metro area showed about 32 kg of meth was used each week in Perth, around 1.6 tonnes each year.
“While WA Police has taken a record amount of meth off the streets, the Government has also been increasing the number of rehabilitation beds and support services for people impacted by meth,” Ms Harvey said.
“The Government is also educating schoolchildren about how this drug tears lives and families apart in an effort to deter people from ever trying the drug.”