Cocaine use in Australia is soaring, while heroin-related arrests have dropped dramatically over the past decade, new figures show.
The Australian Crime Commission's Illicit Drug Data report for 2007-08 reveals figures on arrests and seizures, along with methods of importation.
There were 1271 cocaine seizures, the highest figure on record, over the 12-month period and cocaine detections at the Australian border increased 71 per cent.
"Cocaine use among the general population has increased since 2004 and is currently the highest on record," the report said.
"Increases in cocaine border detections and seizures within Australia indicate a potential expansion of the domestic cocaine market."
The number of heroin and other opioid arrests were mostly stable, but are far lower than those recorded 10 years ago.
In 1998-99 there were more than 14,000 heroin or other opioid-related arrests, compared to over 2,000 in 2007-08.
Arrests over amphetamines - including speed, ecstasy and crystal meth - have increased over the decade and are also the highest on record at 16,047 compared to 15,216 in 2006-07, the report showed.
Australian Crime Commission chief executive John Lawler said people needed to be aware of the impact drugs had on society.
"As outlined in this report, cocaine use in Australia increased in 2007-08 and cannabis use also remains high," Mr Lawler said in the report.
"The threat posed by these and other illicit drugs remains a serious concern and I hope that data contained in this report can further inform partner agencies and decision makers ... in developing strategies to minimise or reduce harm and limit drug supply."
Cannabis accounted for the biggest amount of national drug arrests, with 52,465, with the majority in Queensland.
Some of the major drug importation detections were 250kg of cocaine concealed in Chinese tea in sea cargo from China to Sydney in March 2008 and 66kg of crystal meth found in foot spas in sea cargo from Canada to Melbourne in June 2008.
