Methamphetamine, Cocaine and Australia's Changing Drug Landscape (Part 2)

sameboatadmin · July 30, 2026, 10:51am

This article is part of a four-part series exploring Australia’s changing drug landscape, looking at which substances cause the most harm, who is affected, and how Australia is responding. Read the full series:

Part 1 | What Is Australia’s Most Dangerous Drug? The Answer Isn’t What Most People Think
Part 2 | You are here
Part 3 | The Deadliest Drugs in Australia: Overdose, Opioids and Regional Differences
Part 4 | How Australia’s Drug Landscape Has Changed — And Where It May Be Heading

The question of Australia’s most dangerous drug becomes more complicated when we move beyond the number of users and examine the severity of harm.

Some substances affect a relatively small number of Australians but create significant health, social and economic consequences. Methamphetamine is the clearest example of this. Cocaine represents another important shift in Australia’s drug landscape, with use increasing steadily over recent years.

Understanding these trends helps explain why Australia’s drug challenges cannot be reduced to a single substance or a simple headline.

Photo by Colin Davis on Unsplash

Methamphetamine: The Drug With a Disproportionate Impact

Methamphetamine has become one of Australia’s most recognised drug issues, particularly since the rise of crystalline methamphetamine, commonly known as “ice”.

However, one of the biggest misunderstandings about methamphetamine is that it is Australia’s most commonly used illegal drug.

It is not.

Compared with cannabis and cocaine, the number of Australians using methamphetamine is relatively small. The reason it receives so much attention is not the number of users—it is the intensity of harm experienced by some users and communities.

Methamphetamine is a powerful stimulant that affects the brain’s reward system. It increases levels of dopamine and other neurotransmitters, producing feelings of energy, confidence and alertness.

The problem is that repeated exposure can significantly alter the brain’s reward pathways.

Over time, some people experience:

Strong cravings and dependence
Difficulty controlling use
Sleep disruption
Anxiety and depression
Paranoia
Increased risk of psychosis
Problems maintaining relationships, employment and housing

For families, the effects can be particularly devastating. A person’s substance dependence may lead to financial stress, conflict, unpredictable behaviour and increased pressure on partners, children and support networks.

However, it is important to separate evidence from stereotypes.

Most people who use methamphetamine do not become violent or dangerous. Many people who develop problems with methamphetamine are people experiencing significant underlying challenges, including trauma, mental health issues, unemployment, social isolation or disadvantage.

A compassionate approach focuses on treatment and support rather than blame.

Why Methamphetamine Causes So Much Community Concern

The reason methamphetamine remains a major public health concern is that its impact extends beyond individual health.

Communities may experience increased demand on:

Emergency departments
Ambulance services
Mental health services
Alcohol and other drug treatment services
Police and social services

The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare has consistently identified amphetamine-type stimulants as an important contributor to drug-related hospitalisations and treatment demand.

The challenge for governments is balancing two realities:

The number of people using methamphetamine is smaller than some other drugs.
The level of harm among people experiencing dependence can be extremely high.

This is why methamphetamine often appears near the top of discussions about Australia’s most harmful illicit drugs.

Cocaine: Australia’s Growing Stimulant Problem

While methamphetamine has dominated public discussion, another stimulant has been quietly increasing in popularity: cocaine.

For many years, cocaine was considered a relatively niche drug in Australia, often associated with nightlife, wealthier social groups and occasional recreational use.

That picture has changed.

National surveys have shown cocaine use increasing over time, making it one of Australia’s most commonly used illicit drugs after cannabis.

Several factors may explain this trend:

Greater availability through international supply networks
Increased social acceptance among some groups
Nightlife and festival culture
Perceptions that cocaine is less harmful than other illicit drugs

That final point is particularly important.

Many people view cocaine as a “safer” drug because dependence may develop differently compared with substances such as methamphetamine or heroin.

However, cocaine carries significant risks.

These can include:

Increased heart rate and blood pressure
Heart attack and stroke risk
Anxiety and panic symptoms
Sleep problems
Dependence and compulsive use
Financial and relationship problems

Cocaine also presents a hidden danger because users may underestimate its risks.

A person who uses cocaine occasionally may believe they are not at risk, while gradually increasing frequency and quantity over time.

The Rise of Ketamine and Newer Drug Trends

Australia’s illicit drug market continues to evolve.

In recent years, health authorities have observed increasing interest in substances that were previously less common, including ketamine and some psychedelic substances.

Ketamine is particularly interesting because it sits in a complex space.

It is:

A legitimate medical anaesthetic
Used in some clinical settings for treatment-resistant depression
Also used recreationally

Recreational ketamine use can involve risks including:

Impaired judgement
Accidents and injuries
Memory problems
Bladder damage with frequent use
Psychological dependence

The growth of newer substances creates challenges because public awareness often lags behind changes in availability.

A drug that is relatively uncommon today can become a significant public health issue within a few years.

Australia’s Drug Trends Over the Past Two Decades

Australia’s drug landscape in 2026 looks very different from the early 2000s.

The major changes include:

The decline of heroin as the dominant public concern

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, heroin was at the centre of Australia’s drug debate.

The heroin overdose crisis resulted in significant public concern and policy responses.

Today, heroin remains a serious issue, but it no longer dominates Australia’s illicit drug conversation in the same way.

The rise of methamphetamine

The mid-2000s onwards saw increasing concern about methamphetamine, particularly crystalline methamphetamine.

This period changed public understanding of stimulant dependence and led to significant investment in prevention, treatment and community services.

The growth of cocaine

Cocaine has become increasingly common, particularly in major cities.

Wastewater monitoring and household surveys indicate that cocaine consumption has increased substantially compared with earlier decades.

More diverse drug use

Australia’s drug market is no longer defined by a small number of substances.

People may encounter:

Cannabis
Cocaine
Methamphetamine
MDMA
Ketamine
Psychedelics
Synthetic substances
Misused prescription medications

This diversity makes prevention more challenging because each drug requires a different response.

A Different Way to Think About Drug Harm

One of the biggest mistakes in drug discussions is ranking substances as simply “good” or “bad”.

The reality is more complicated.

A person’s risk depends on:

The substance itself
Dose and frequency of use
Method of consumption
Individual health factors
Age
Mental health
Social environment
Access to support and treatment

The same substance can have very different consequences for different people.

A teenager experimenting with a drug, a person using it daily to cope with trauma, and someone taking it occasionally in a social setting are experiencing very different situations.

This is why effective drug policy focuses not only on the substance but also on the person and the circumstances around use.

The Current Picture

When we compare Australia’s major illicit drugs, a pattern begins to emerge:

Measure	Drug that stands out
Most commonly used	Cannabis
Growing popularity	Cocaine
Highest dependence risk among stimulants	Methamphetamine
Significant overdose risk	Opioids
Emerging concerns	Ketamine and synthetic substances

There is no single winner in the race to be Australia’s “most dangerous drug.”

The answer depends on what type of harm we are measuring.

However, when the question changes from “Which drug is used the most?” to “Which drug creates the greatest disruption for individuals, families and communities?”, methamphetamine becomes one of the strongest contenders.

But there is another category where a different group of drugs dominates completely:

fatal overdose.

To understand Australia’s drug problem fully, we need to look at the substances responsible for the greatest number of deaths—and that leads us to opioids.