A recent report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission indicates a significant increase in drug consumption across Australia. Between August 2023 and August 2024, Australians used an estimated 22.2 tonnes of illicit substances, including methylamphetamine, cocaine, heroin, and MDMA, valued at approximately $11.5 billion.

Authorities observed a substantial rise in the use of several drugs. Cocaine consumption increased by 69 percent compared to the previous year, MDMA use rose by 49 percent, methylamphetamine use grew by 21 percent, and heroin use went up by 14 percent. This surge is attributed to the recovery and expansion of illicit drug markets by organized crime groups following COVID-19 restrictions.

The report highlights that methylamphetamine consumption reached its highest recorded annual level at 12.8 tonnes, with a national increase of 2.2 tonnes. Cocaine consumption also reached a record high. Record levels of methylamphetamine, MDA, and ketamine were detected in capital cities, while regional areas experienced record high heroin use. In fact, average consumption of alcohol, nicotine, MDA, methylamphetamine, oxycodone, fentanyl, and cannabis was higher in regional areas than in capital cities.

Specific regions showed higher consumption rates for certain substances. The Northern Territory reported nicotine and alcohol consumption above the national average. Regional areas in South Australia, Western Australia, and Victoria recorded the highest average methylamphetamine use. Among capital cities, Adelaide and Perth had the highest methylamphetamine use, and Sydney recorded the highest cocaine use.

Original article

Actionable Information: This article provides no actionable information. It reports on drug consumption statistics and trends but does not offer any steps, safety tips, or advice that a reader can implement in their daily life.

Educational Depth: The article offers some educational depth by explaining that the surge in drug use is attributed to the recovery and expansion of illicit drug markets by organized crime groups following COVID-19 restrictions. It also provides specific data on consumption increases for various substances and highlights regional differences in usage. However, it does not delve deeply into the "why" or "how" beyond this general attribution, nor does it explain the methodology behind the report's findings.

Personal Relevance: The topic of increased drug consumption has personal relevance as it relates to public health, safety, and potentially the prevalence of crime. While it doesn't directly tell an individual how to change their behavior, understanding these trends could influence personal choices regarding safety and awareness of community issues.

Public Service Function: The article serves a limited public service function by informing the public about a significant societal issue. It acts as a news report on findings from a criminal intelligence commission. However, it does not offer official warnings, safety advice, or emergency contacts, nor does it provide tools for the public to use.

Practicality of Advice: As there is no advice given, this point is not applicable.

Long-Term Impact: The article's long-term impact is minimal in terms of direct guidance for individuals. It informs about a trend, which might indirectly influence public discourse or policy, but it doesn't equip individuals with tools for lasting personal change or planning.

Emotional or Psychological Impact: The article primarily presents factual data about drug consumption. It does not appear designed to evoke strong emotional responses like fear or hope, nor does it offer strategies for coping with such issues. Its impact is largely informational.

Clickbait or Ad-Driven Words: The article does not use clickbait or ad-driven language. The tone is factual and reportorial, focusing on presenting data from an official source.

Missed Chances to Teach or Guide: The article missed opportunities to provide more practical value. It could have included information on resources for addiction support, harm reduction strategies, or advice on how to recognize and respond to drug-related issues in the community. For example, a reader interested in learning more could be directed to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's website for the full report, or to national helplines for substance abuse.

The widespread increase in the consumption of illicit substances directly erodes the foundational duties of kin and community. When individuals turn to these substances, their capacity to fulfill their responsibilities to children and elders is diminished. Fathers and mothers, whose primary duty is the nurturing and protection of the next generation, become less able to provide stable homes and guidance. Elders, who are repositories of ancestral wisdom and deserve care and respect, are neglected as family members become consumed by their dependencies.

This behavior fractures the trust and responsibility that bind families and neighbors. The pursuit of fleeting sensations through these substances replaces the enduring commitment to kin and the land. It creates a dependency that shifts focus away from the natural duties of providing for one's family and caring for shared resources. The stewardship of the land suffers as individuals preoccupied with substance abuse are less likely to engage in the diligent care of their environment, which is a fundamental duty for the survival of future generations.

The acceptance of such widespread substance use undermines the very fabric of community. It fosters an environment where personal indulgence takes precedence over collective well-being and the protection of the vulnerable. This leads to a breakdown in the clear personal duties that hold clans together, weakening the social structures essential for survival. The emphasis shifts from procreation and the raising of healthy children to a destructive cycle that jeopardizes the continuity of the people.

The consequences of these behaviors spreading unchecked are dire: families will disintegrate, leaving children exposed and elders uncared for. Community trust will evaporate, replaced by suspicion and isolation. The land, neglected by those who should be its stewards, will suffer. The continuity of the people will be threatened as the focus on procreation and the raising of the next generation is overshadowed by widespread addiction.

The text uses strong words to make the increase in drug use sound very bad. It says there was a "significant increase" and a "substantial rise." These words make people feel worried about the numbers. The text focuses on the negative aspects of drug use without offering any other perspective.

The text presents a cause for the drug increase that is attributed to "organized crime groups." This phrasing points blame at a specific group. It suggests that these groups are responsible for the rise in drug consumption.

The text uses numbers to show how much drugs were used and how much they cost. It says Australians used "22.2 tonnes of illicit substances, valued at approximately $11.5 billion." This large amount of money and weight makes the problem seem very big and serious.

The text states that "Authorities observed a substantial rise in the use of several drugs." The word "Authorities" is used without naming them. This makes it seem like an official, unquestionable observation. It presents the information as a fact without showing who made the observation.

The report conveys a sense of concern and alarm through its presentation of a "significant increase" in drug consumption. This feeling is amplified by the specific, large numbers used: "22.2 tonnes of illicit substances" and a value of "$11.5 billion." The use of words like "substantial rise" and "record high" for various drugs, such as cocaine and methylamphetamine, further intensifies this feeling of worry. The purpose of this emotion is to alert the reader to a serious problem, aiming to cause worry and potentially inspire action or a change in opinion about the severity of drug use in Australia. The writer uses strong, descriptive words to make the situation sound more serious than a neutral report might, emphasizing the scale of the issue.

Furthermore, the text evokes a sense of seriousness and gravity by attributing the surge in drug use to "organized crime groups" and the "recovery and expansion of illicit drug markets" following COVID-19 restrictions. This connection to criminal activity adds a layer of unease and highlights the organized nature of the problem. The emotion here is not about personal sadness or happiness, but rather a more objective, yet impactful, sense of the gravity of the situation. This helps guide the reader to view the issue as a significant societal challenge, rather than a minor one. The writer uses factual reporting of increases and the underlying causes to build this sense of seriousness, making the information more persuasive by presenting it as a well-documented and concerning trend.

The report also subtly communicates a sense of importance and authority by referencing the "Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission" and presenting detailed statistics. This builds trust in the information being shared. The emotions are not overtly expressed but are implied through the credible source and the precise data. This approach aims to make the reader believe the information and take it seriously. The writer uses the authority of the source and the detailed data to persuade the reader that this is a credible and important issue that warrants attention. The repetition of "record high" for different substances also serves as a tool to emphasize the extreme nature of the current situation, making it sound more impactful and memorable.