Cocaine Use Rising in Austria, Cannabis Remains Most Popular

Recent findings from the Institute of Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck indicate that drug consumption trends in Austria in 2024 follow patterns observed in previous years. While cannabis continues to lead as the most consumed illicit drug, cocaine is on the rise. The western regions of the country reported higher usage of stimulants and synthetic drugs compared to the east, as revealed by the university on Wednesday.

The findings are part of a broader European study conducted by the European Drug Agency (EUDA), which analyzed wastewater from 17 treatment facilities across 135 cities and regions, including Austria's capital, Vienna. The substances examined included cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines (speed), MDMA (ecstasy), and methamphetamine, as well as legal substances like alcohol and nicotine. The data reflects patterns among approximately 3.5 million residents in Austria and South Tyrol.

Herbert Oberacher, head of the wastewater laboratory at the GMI, explained that the average individual in one of the 17 studied regions consumes slightly more than a glass of wine daily, smokes three to four cigarettes, and uses 0.07 joints along with about 1.5 milligrams of stimulants.

Regional disparities were evident in the data. The consumption of stimulants and synthetic drugs was notably higher in the western regions. Kufstein, the second-largest city in Tyrol, emerged again as a hotspot for cocaine use. The increasing popularity of this substance is underscored by the growing amounts of cocaine residues found in Austrian wastewater over the years. In 2024, measurements indicated a prevalence of 1.4 grams per 1,000 residents.

Additionally, the highest per capita consumption of amphetamines was recorded in Ried im Innkreis, Upper Austria. While MDMA consumption was generally higher in urban areas compared to rural regions, the highest per capita usage was observed in Purgstall, Lower Austria. In contrast, alcohol and nicotine consumption presented a more uniform pattern across Austria.

Among prohibited substances, cannabis remained dominant throughout all regions, with urban areas reporting higher usage rates compared to rural settings. On average, 11 grams of THC were consumed per 1,000 residents, with Vienna leading in this statistic.

The study also indicated that levels of alcohol, cocaine, and MDMA residues were notably higher during weekends. This suggests that these substances are often used as party drugs. The annual SCORE study gathered samples from the inflow of wastewater treatment facilities over a week-long period in the spring and early summer of 2024.