According to the annual wastewater analyses conducted by the Institute of Forensic Medicine (GMI) at the Medical University of Innsbruck, drug consumption in Austria in 2024 seems to follow the trends of previous years. While cannabis remained the most commonly used illicit drug, cocaine continued to rise in popularity. More stimulants and synthetic drugs were consumed in the western regions than in the east, the university reported on Wednesday.
For a Europe-wide study conducted by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), 17 wastewater treatment plants from 135 cities and regions— including the capital Vienna— were examined. The study focused on the consumption markers of drugs such as cannabis, cocaine, amphetamines (speed), MDMA (ecstasy), and methamphetamine (the active ingredient in crystal meth). Legal substances like alcohol and nicotine were also included. It was found that Austria’s drug consumption is in the “middle” compared to other European countries.
The data provides insights into 3.5 million people in Austria and South Tyrol. “On average, a resident in one of the 17 examined regions in Austria consumes a little more than one glass of wine per day, smokes three to four cigarettes, uses 0.07 joints, and consumes about 1.5 milligrams of stimulants,” explained Herbert Oberacher, head of the wastewater laboratory at GMI.
Regional Differences in Consumption of Illicit Drugs
Looking at the data more closely, regional differences in drug consumption become evident. In the west, more stimulants and synthetic drugs are consumed than in the east. The highest per capita consumption of cocaine was again recorded in Kufstein, the second-largest city in Tyrol. Cocaine in general seems to be becoming increasingly popular: “A development we’ve been observing for years in Austria’s wastewater is the increase in cocaine residue levels,” said Oberacher. In 2024, 1.4 grams per 1,000 inhabitants were measured. The highest per capita consumption of amphetamines (speed) was observed in Ried im Innkreis in Upper Austria. MDMA consumption was generally higher in urban areas than in rural areas, with the highest value per capita seen in the Purgstall region in Lower Austria.
A more uniform picture emerged regarding alcohol and nicotine consumption, which were quite similar across Austria. Cannabis continued to dominate in all regions for illicit drugs, with consumption higher in urban areas than in rural ones. On average, 11 grams of THC were consumed per 1,000 inhabitants. Vienna had the highest consumption in this regard.
Weekend Consumption of “Party Drugs”
Additionally, it was noted that in many regions, higher alcohol, cocaine, and MDMA residues were found on weekends. Experts interpreted this as an indication that these substances are used as “party drugs”. For the annual SCORE study, samples were collected daily from the inflows of wastewater treatment plants in the spring and early summer of 2024, over a one-week period, and analyzed.
