Tasmania has highest capital city cannabis, fentanyl, ketamine and meth use in the country
The latest wastewater report suggests worrying trends in Tasmania’s drug use. But there is one drug found which causing particular concern.
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Tasmania had the highest use of cannabis, fentanyl, oxycodone, ketamine and MDMA than any capital city in the Australia, according to a new report, but an industry expert says the data doesn’t paint a complete picture of recreational drug habits.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission analysed wastewater samples from 56 sites across the country, looking for the presence of 12 substances.
The latest report showed results for December last year and some for February this year.
While alcohol consumption decreased in most regions over the past two years, the data showed Hobart’s alcohol consumption was the second highest, behind the Northern Territory.
“That’s consistent with other data, it’s consistent across time. We’ve pretty much been coming second place for a long time,” Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council Tasmania CEO Jackie Hallam said.
Across the country, the consumption of alcohol, cocaine, MDMA, MDA, heroin and ketamine was higher in capital cities than in regional areas.
Meanwhile consumption of nicotine, methylamphetamine, oxycodone, fentanyl and cannabis were higher in regional areas than capital cities.
Hobart led the Australia’s capital city consumption for several illicit substances, including cannabis, MDMA and MDA in December.
“Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug, it’s always been that way,” Ms Hallam said.
“Forty per cent of Tasmanians and Australians have tried cannabis.”
Hobart also had the highest capital city consumption for some medications, including fentanyl, oxycodone and ketamine.
“They are interesting ones, they’re pharmaceuticals, they’re often used in medical settings or vet settings,” Ms Hallam said.
“We need to be careful when we draw conclusions with recreation drug use.
“Fentanyl is one to lift out of the pack, that’s identified as being a highly dangerous opiod that people in other countries have been extremely concerned about.
“Fentanyl is something we don’t want to see used on a recreational basis.
“If people are simply not used to taking drugs, people can unfortunately have a fatal overdose and pass away.”
Ms Hallam said the data was useful, but it didn’t paint a complete picture of Australia’s drug habits.
“We don’t tend to base health information on wastewater data, we use multiple forms of data to dry conclusions about drug use,” she said.
Ms Hallam said help was available to those who required assistance.
“When we talk about people who seek assistance, alcohol is the drug people seek the most assistance for then it’s amphetamines and then cannabis,” Ms Hallam said.
“Treatment works, people don’t have to feel hopeless, we always encourage people to reach out.”
■ For free and confidential advice about alcohol and other drug treatment services call the National Alcohol and Other Drug Hotline on 1800 250 015.
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