Responding to a landmark new report on the scale of Australia’s ice epidemic, Associate Professor Lynne Magor-Blatch pointed to the availability of ‘‘precursors’’ – other drugs used as ingredients to make methylamphetamine – and online recipes to explain the unprecedented take-up of the drug outside Australia’s major cities. 

‘‘It is now the major presenting illicit drug issue for people coming into treatment,’’ said Prof Magor-Blatch, a member of the Illawarra Drug Court Steering Committee with 30 years’ experience in drug and alcohol work.

‘‘One of the things that have been most alarming for people has been the increase in country and regional towns rather than in cities. That says something about distribution links, and the availability of the precursors.’’

The Australian Crime Commission’s first public report on ice warns that crime syndicates are now mixing other illicit drugs into ice to increase addiction levels ‘‘in areas the drug has not previously been present’’.

The report, The Australian Methylamphetamine Market, the National Picture, concludes the market for the drug will continue to grow in the medium term as crime syndicates find new ways to launder their profits and continue to adapt to changes in legislation and law enforcement.

The report identifies methylamphetamine as the greatest drug threat facing the Australian public.

Australian ice users are paying a premium for the drug – one gram is worth $US80 ($102) in China compared to $US500 ($635) in Australia – making it a lucrative marketplace for dealers.

Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan says 60per cent of organised criminal gangs, including bikies, were profiting from the drug’s importation or manufacture.

‘‘The fight against ice is a matter for everyone,’’ he said.

Ice causes psychosis and long-term psychological damage.

The drug has also been linked to violent criminal attacks.