BRISBANE: The cocaine market in Queensland is booming with use of the narcotic at its highest level on record.
A Crime and Misconduct Commission report released on Tuesday, Illicit drug markets in Queensland, detected significant changes in the state’s illicit drug market in the past five years, particularly in the production, supply and use of cannabis, cocaine and ecstasy.
CMC intelligence director Chris Keen said while there had been a decrease in the use of cannabis among the general population, drug markets overall are raising serious concerns.
Mr Keen said the cocaine market had continued to increase since data for this report was collected and its risk to Queenslanders was now assessed as high.
“Queensland’s cocaine use has increased and is now at its highest level on record, however it remains small when compared with markets for other illicit drugs, such as ecstasy,” he said.
“Recently, ecstasy use in Queensland has more than doubled between 2001 and 2007. “Taking ecstasy, like any drug, is dangerous and the risk is increased by the fact that ecstasy-type drugs are often not what they are purported to be.”
The report found cannabis use had decreased generally but the health risks were still “high” and had been underestimated by the public.
“Cannabis is traditionally viewed as a soft drug but its use can lead to psychotic episodes and a significant level of criminality involved in the supply side of the market, including extortion and physical violence,” Mr Keen said.
“Taking drugs is like playing Russian roulette with your health and possibly your life.”
Drug Arm executive director Dennis Young said the findings were in line with his organisation’s experiences.
“Alcohol is still the major drug we come across with young people,” he said.
“Amphetamines is the next one to worry about with young people.”
He said cocaine use in Queensland had traditionally been at a low level.
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Source: whereilive
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