Do the levels of pharmaceutical drugs in wastewater in Australia vary by geographic location?
Oxycodone and fentanyl use vary substantially between Australian jurisdictions†. Both oxycodone and fentanyl use were higher in regional areas than in capital cities.
Source: Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (2022). National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program: Report 17. Canberra: ACIC.
† This FAQ uses data from the National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, which measures the major metabolite of oxycodone and fentanyl, two legally prescribed pharmaceuticals with abuse potential.