SYDNEY, May 8 (Xinhua) -- Amphetamine possession and dealing in the Australian State of New South Wales (NSW) has skyrocketed 250 percent, a special inquiry heard on Tuesday.
Set up by the state government to examine the use and impact of illegal stimulants such as methamphetamine, cocaine and MDMA, the commission of inquiry began at the end of 2018 and is currently hearing evidence in Sydney from public health experts and policing agencies.
Among them, NSW drug squad Commander Detective Chief Inspector Michael Cook, who told the hearing that at least 80 percent of the work his team does is linked to amphetamines, a powerful stimulator of the central nervous system.
He explained, one of the main reasons is because over the past decade in Australia, the price of methamphetamine has halved.
While amphetamines remain a significant problem in larger cities like Sydney, Acting Executive Director of the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research Jackie Fitzgerald said "we definitely see support for that premise that the regions are being harder hit by amphetamine use," she told the hearing.
According to data presented by Fitzgerald, a number of rural areas have experienced "spectacular increases" over the past decade.
On the Central Coast and in the Hunter Valley, use and possession of amphetamines jumped 400 percent.
In the Southern Highlands and Shoalhaven, figures surged 500 percent and at Coffs Harbour incidents skyrocketed from just 15 in 2009 to 163 in 2018, making it a rise of 1,000 percent.
"The increase in Coffs Harbour is remarkable, similarly in (the state's) far west... there's been a 700 percent increase, from 31 to 245 incidents," Fitzgerald said.
Experts estimated that around 1,500 people have died from amphetamine use across the state in the past ten years.
With the findings set to be handed down in October this year, the inquiry will now travel to a number of regional areas including Lismore, Nowra, Dubbo, East Maitland and Broken Hill to hear further evidence.
