Australia news live: Josh Thomas weighs in on Divine Playhouse debate; meth surges in workplace drug use survey

Amphetamine use rises among blue-collar workers

More Australian workers are taking meth on the job, Australian Associated Press reports.

The Drug Detection Agency, Australasia’s largest workplace drug-testing provider, on Thursday released its latest report for the final quarter of ۲۰۲۵/۲۶.

The data shows the ingestion of amphetamine-type stimulants, including methamphetamine, soared over the year among the mostly blue-collar workers who underwent testing.

The presence of amphetamine-type stimulants accounted for ۶۰% of all positive tests in the June quarter, a significant year-on-year rise of ۱۷.۹%.

Next in line was the use of opioids, including oxycodone, which made up ۱۱.۶% of positive tests, although usage was down over the year.

Cocaine was detected in ۸% of positive tests in the quarter, an increase from the same period in the previous year.

Cannabis was also present in ۳۹% of positive tests, but usage fell slightly annually.

Drugs were found in ۳% of all screens conducted by the agency, which noted that rate was broadly unchanged from previous quarters.

By jurisdiction, Western Australia recorded the highest use of amphetamine-type stimulants at ۸۸.۶%, although the four other mainland states were all pushing ۵۰% or above.

SA had the highest cocaine detections, Queensland the highest cannabis detections and Victoria the highest opioid detections.

NSW ranked second for cocaine and opioids, third for cannabis and four for meth.