A drug-monitoring study has shown Tasmania has the second highest regional consumption of methylenedioxyemphetamine, or MDA, in the country.
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The study showed the state had highest capital city consumption of the drug.
It was also reported Tasmania had the highest average capital city consumption of oxycodone.
The National Wastewater Drug Monitoring Program, by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, collected the information through a study of wastewater over 12 months to August at three capital city sites and two regional sites.
ACIC chief executive Michael Phelan said the commission estimated 92 kilograms of methylamphetamine, 15.5 kilograms or cocaine, 32.1 kilograms of MDMA and 2.1 kilograms of heroin was consumed in Tasmania over the year.
“On a national level, alcohol and nicotine remain the highest-consumed substances and methylamphetamine continues to be the most consumed illicit drug tested,” he said.
The new report found average methylamphetamine consumption had increased in capital city sites, but declined in regional sites.
It found average cocaine and MDMA consumption had decreased overall.
Alcohol, Tobacco and other Drugs Council chief executive Alison Lai said though useful, the data in the report needed to be interpreted cautiously.
She said the data was helpful to identify what drugs were being taken in particular regions, but gave no insight into how and why they were being taken.
Ms Lai said oxycodone was a legally prescribed medication for pain relief so the report could not conclude whether it was being misused or not.
She said the high amount of methylamphetamine use aligned with what members were telling the council.
Ms Lai said the high amount of use could be attributed to a supply, demand and price dynamic.
She said fentanyl, a strong prescribed drug for chronic pain, was becoming increasingly present in Tasmania and had raised concerns from the council’s member organisations.
According to Tasmania Police, there was 147.4 kilograms of cannabis seized in 2017-18.
As for other drugs, there was 1.7 kilograms of methylamphetamine seized, 8.8 kilograms of ecstacy, 452 grams of amphetamine, 238 grams of cocaine, and 137 grams of heroin.