Bunbury's prominent advocate for drug rehabilitation and family support Lina Pugh is "not at all" surprised by new data that shows methamphetamine consumption in Bunbury is at a record high.
The tests, which were commissioned by the state government, were conducted at a Bunbury wastewater treatment plant between November last year and May.
A WA Police spokesman said based on the four tests conducted, Bunbury consumed an average of 0.94kgs of meth per week and 49.1kgs of meth per year.
“That is 491,000 street “hits” or “points” which is measured as 0.1 grams at 68.5% purity,” he said.
“A “hit” generally sells for $100 – hence the $49 million annual total.”
He said Water Corporation of WA took samples of pre-treated water over a one week period, every two months, and sent it to experts at the University of South Australia for analysis.
The Bunbury catchment area includes wastewater from the Bunbury CBD down to Dalyellup in the south and Picton in the east.
Perth, Bunbury and Geraldton were three of the six catchments used in the testing. Water Corporation of WA has asked the locations of the other three treatment plants not be disclosed for "security reasons".
The analysis revealed meth consumption in Bunbury was on average 558 doses per week per 1000 residents while Perth and Geraldton scored an average of 334 and 315 doses respectively.
A dose, as defined by the University of South Australia is 0.3 grams of pure meth.
Mrs Pugh, who is on a mission to establish a crisis care centre in Bunbury for users and their family to access support, also created the Facebook group Ice in Bunbury – A Mother’s Nightmare.
She said the state of Bunbury's meth problem wasn't news to her but she is keen to find out how the government will add value to the community using the data.
"People like Julie and I know it already - we're living it, we're feeling it," she said.
"When you've got 200 phone calls and messages a week from parents and loved ones who are concerned about their addicts, there's obviously an issue.
"It’s do or die in my opinion at this stage – we need help and we need it now.”
Deputy Premier and Police Minister Liza Harvey said the wastewater testing analysis would provide science-based evidence of the scale of meth use across the wider WA community.
She said the data would help inform the state government's Western Australian Meth Strategy 2016 which tackles meth on three fronts - education, support and treatment services and disrupting supply.
South West MLC Adele Farina said the results for Bunbury were not entirely surprising but were shocking.
"I and others in the community have been calling for a residential drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in Bunbury for years now and these calls have been ignored by the Barnett government," she said.
"The Barnett government needs to immediately fund a residential rehabilitation facility in Bunbury and better fund other rehabilitation services so that those addicted to meth and wanting to get clean can access the support they need locally.
"It's time the Barnett government stopped ignoring Bunbury and started seriously addressing Bunbury's needs – the impact of drugs in the community affects everyone."
