Ice use rising, cocaine resurgent - but the big concerns remain alcohol and nicotine

Australians spent more than an estimated $11 billion last year on illegal drugs. So says the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, based on findings from an analysis of waste water that also found significant drug use in regional areas, with methamphetamine use the country's biggest challenge.

More than a tonne of MDMA worth about $86 million seized from a shipping container in Sydney Source: AAP

The use of methamphetamines, or ice, has been on the rise in Australian cities and towns for many years now.

And despite graphic ad campaigns like this one from the Australian government, consumption of the illicit drug shows no signs of slowing down.

That's the standout finding of this year's report from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission's wastewater drug monitoring program, which analyses samples from 58 sites around the country to see just what drugs Australians are excreting.