In a bid to monitor and control illegal substance use in Adelaide, researchers have come upon the shocking discovery that crystal methamphetamine, or ice, us is, alarmingly, on the rise.
Ice, as described by Australia’s Alcohol and Drug Foundation, is a highly addictive stimulant drug that can not only seriously harm the physical health of the person taking it, as well as those around them, but can also incite a string of mental health problems, including anxiety and depression.
Researchers from the University of Adelaide came upon the shocking discovery during their testing of four sewage treatment stations in the South Australian capital.
According to The Advertiser, wastewater analyses revealed that 388 doses of ice were detected per week per 1,000 people.
The previous year, this number sat at 307 per 1,000 people.
Not only that, but the results indicated that there was a significant spike in ice use in December 2016, with 502 doses detected compared to 379 in December 2015.
Despite the fact that methamphetamine is one of the highest-selling drugs illegally sold on the black market, this rising number is still a major concern for South Australians.
If you, or someone you know, would like to learn more about the dangers of ice, visit the Alcohol and Drug Foundation’s website.
