This was the result of the annual wastewater analysis by the Institute for Forensic Medicine at the Medical University of Innsbruck (GMI). However, there were increases in the use of methamphetamine/crystal meth and amphetamine/speed.
For the annual study of the European network SCORE, in which the GMI is involved, the wastewater from 110 sewage treatment plants in 90 cities and regions throughout Europe was analyzed. In Austria, the wastewater from nine sewage treatment plants was scrutinized, as well as a sewage treatment plant in South Tyrol. The study allows conclusions to be drawn about the drug use of almost a million people in Austria and South Tyrol, the Medical University of Innsbruck said in a broadcast on Thursday.
Declines in ecstasy, cocaine and cannabis
In any case, Corona was rather detrimental to the consumption of party drugs in Austria in 2021. According to the study, there were significant declines in MDMA/ecstasy (minus 50 percent), but also in cocaine and cannabis (both minus ten percent). Apparently, “outliers” were methamphetamine/crystal meth (up 130 percent) and amphetamine/speed (up 30 percent). “The consumption of the latter drugs is still at a low level despite the increase, but this development should be kept in mind in the sense of early preventive measures,” emphasized Herbert Oberacher, head of the study, from Innsbruck’s forensic medicine department. Even if there are regional differences, the results would suggest that the pandemic and the associated official measures led to an overall decline in the consumption of party drugs.
“West-East Distribution”
As far as the consumption of prohibited drugs is concerned, a different picture emerges when comparing the regions: Cannabis is the dominant drug in almost all regions, with THC consumption appearing to be higher in urban areas than in rural areas. Among the stimulants, cocaine is the top-selling drug. In western Austria and South Tyrol, cocaine is consumed in larger amounts per capita than in eastern Austria. The South Tyrolean provincial capital Bozen and – as in the previous year – the fortress town of Kufstein recorded the highest per capita consumption of cocaine, according to the wastewater analysis. The highest per capita consumption of the active substances amphetamine (speed) and methamphetamine (crystal meth) was observed in eastern Austria, especially in Graz. This “West-East distribution of stimulants and synthetic drugs” is not limited to Austria, but is reflected in Europe, it said.
In contrast to the banned drugs, the per capita consumption of alcohol and nicotine is relatively uniform within Austria, it was emphasized. In a Europe-wide comparison, Austria and South Tyrol would “at best” be in the middle for all analyzed substances.
Source: Nachrichten
