THE war on ice has moved to a new front, with authorities now seeking to learn more about Tamworth’s drug habits by testing the region’s sewage.
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At its second-last ordinary meeting for the year, Tamworth Regional Council will consider taking up an offer to participate in a National Drug Monitoring Pilot Program, commencing in December 2016.
The wastewater analysis, funded by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), will test 30 facilities across the nation for the presence of a wide variety of illicit drugs, with a particular focus on methamphetamine.
The report to be considered by council said “analysis of the findings will inform law enforcement, health and policy responses to drug problems and will permit respective governments and agencies to measure the effectiveness of existing responses”.
If councillors approve the item, the program will run initially for one year, with the option of extending it for a further three years.
The analysis would be undertaken at the Westdale Wastewater Treatment Plant, where staff would be required to provide “daily samples of wastewater effluent for one week, every four months”.
According to the report by water and waste manager Dan Coe, the confidentiality of each participating city will be protected.
“The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Pilot Program is a key initiative in establishing an objective evidence base on illicit and licit drug use,” ACIC chief executive officer Chris Dawson said.
“Wastewater analysis is an innovative approach used both domestically and internationally to detect and monitor drug use.
“It provides a measure, rather than an estimate, of the use of a number of illicit drugs, as well as licit drugs including nicotine, alcohol and some pharmaceuticals.”
The program will collect data from eight wastewater facilities in NSW, as well as, a number of metropolitan and regional sites across Australia.
“The illicit drug market remains the principal source of profit for organised crime and continues to be a key focus for law enforcement in Australia,” Mr Dawson said.
“This data will provide law enforcement, policy, regulatory and health agencies with additional and more objective data, in relation to drug use across Australia.”