'Soft' drugs have hidden dangers

POPULAR DRUG: Marijuana.

SEEING some drugs such as ecstasy and cannabis as "soft" is seriously downplaying the risks involving in taking them, a report from Queensland's Crime and Misconduct Commission (CMC) says.

The report, Illicit Drug Markets in Queensland, released on Tuesday, says ecstasy use in Queensland doubled between 2001 and 2007, while up to 60 per cent of people on indigenous Cape York and Torres Strait Island communities used cannabis.

"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," CMC director of intelligence, Chris Keen said.

"Taking drugs is like playing Russian roulette with your health and possibly your life."

The CMC report said cannabis use on northern Aboriginal and Islander communities was approaching that of the Northern Territory, where around 60 per cent of residents used the drug regularly.

Mr Keen said that while cannabis use in the general population may have decreased, the health risks are still high and have 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," he said.

The size of Queensland's methylamphetamine market was thought to have moderated following a crackdown on access to pseudoephedrine, used to manufacture the drug, in pharmacies.

However, the CMC suspects that criminals have moved to alternative precursor chemicals and supplies.

"This development will need to be monitored closely," the report says.

Mr Keen said the cocaine market had continued to increase since data for the 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," he said.

"However, it remains small when compared with markets for other illicit drugs, such as ecstasy."