Methamphetamine-related deaths, hospitalizations, and consumption across Australia reached record levels in 2024, driven by surging global supply and strong domestic demand according to a report released Friday by the National Drug and Alcohol Research Center (NDARC). The data shows 753 overdose deaths involving amphetamine-type stimulants—primarily methamphetamine—occurred in 2024, translating to a rate of 2.9 deaths per 100,000 people and significantly exceeding previous figures.
Hospitalizations and Wastewater Monitoring Data
Healthcare systems continue to absorb the heavy toll of illicit drug consumption. The NDARC report recorded nearly 14,000 hospitalizations due to methamphetamine use during the 2023-24 period, representing 24 percent of all drug-related hospital admissions in the country.
Wastewater drug monitoring programs corroborated the clinical data by estimating that 15.8 tonnes of methamphetamine were consumed nationwide in 2024-25. Associate Professor Amy Peacock, who leads the NDARC drug trends program, noted that consumption rates were particularly elevated in regional areas, fueled by high local demand and expanding international supply chains.
Did you know? Wastewater analysis allows researchers to estimate total community drug consumption by measuring trace amounts of illicit substances and their metabolites in municipal sewage systems.
Shifts in Mortality Demographics
The burden of methamphetamine harms has experienced a notable generational shift. In 2005, younger Australians aged 15 to 24 accounted for one in eight amphetamine-type stimulant overdose deaths. By 2024, that cohort represented just 5 percent of fatalities.
Conversely, mortality rates climbed among adults aged 25 to 54.
Seizures and the Response Framework
Law enforcement agencies intercepted volumes of the illicit substance alongside the rising consumption figures. Australian authorities seized more than 16 tonnes of methamphetamine in 2024, marking a substantial increase compared to previous years.
In response to these findings, the NDARC report emphasized the urgent need for coordinated, multi-faceted interventions. Researchers called for aligned strategies spanning primary prevention, evidence-based harm reduction, accessible treatment services, and ongoing longitudinal monitoring.
Pro Tip: For public health professionals and researchers tracking substance use trends, combining wastewater metrics with hospital separation data provides a comprehensive picture of community-level impacts beyond traditional mortality statistics.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many methamphetamine overdose deaths occurred in Australia recently?
The NDARC report recorded 753 overdose deaths involving amphetamine-type stimulants, primarily methamphetamine, in 2024.
What demographic is most affected by methamphetamine-related deaths?
While individuals aged 15-24 accounted for one in eight overdose deaths in 2005, that figure dropped to 5 percent in 2024, with mortality rates now concentrated among adults aged 25-54.
How much methamphetamine was consumed according to wastewater monitoring?
Wastewater analysis estimated an all-time high of 15.8 tonnes of methamphetamine consumed across Australia in 2024-25.
What factors are driving these rising harms?
Associate Professor Amy Peacock stated that increased global supply and strong local demand are the primary drivers behind the escalating consumption and related harms.
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