Victoria home of purest, cheapest form of drug "ice" in Australia: report

Victoria is now the home to the purest and cheapest form of the killer drug "ice" in Australia, a report revealed on Friday.

The Australian Crime Commission (ACC) released results of an Illicit Drug Data Survey, which said that high-quality crystal methamphetamine, or "ice" as its commonly known, was continuing to flood the Australian market.

The purity of the drug had also increased in Victoria, from around 10 percent five years ago up to 80 percent in last calendar year. New South Wales had the second highest average purity at just over 70 percent.

Experts have said this is the result of a deregulated market where dealers are trying to undercut prices to push the product.

The report said a price drop of up to 90,000 U.S. dollars per kilogram had occurred in Victoria, where ice was now commanding up to 160,000 U.S. dollars per kilo, down from last year when the premium product sold for up to 250,000 U.S. dollars.

Victoria's Police Minister Wade Noonan was particularly concerned with the purity levels of the drug hitting the streets.

"Clearly what those that are in the business of selling ice are seeking to do is bring about greater purity which brings about greater addiction," he said on Friday.

"I think the purity aspect of this drug is driving demand...we need to tackle this drug and try and drive down the demand.

"Quite simply, it is ruining lives."

An increased popularity of the drug is enticing producers to import record amounts and create a higher quality product so that consumers continue to purchase the best available.

An increased price and lower purity would be key indicators that the drug was being harder to source.

John Ryan from the Penington Institute, a leading substance abuse community awareness body, said the spread of the drug was worrying for families of addicts.

"From a consumer perspective, you get more bang from your buck, " he told 3AW radio on Friday.

"It's a completely unregulated market; you don't know what you are getting until you try it."

"It is significantly purer than it was a few a years which means the harm is actually greater... there is a queue of people lining up to sell it because the profit is so huge." Endit