An analysis of South Australia's sewage has confirmed the state's unenviable title of being the nation's biggest user of the drug ice.
Analysis of the sewage of 14 million Australians across the country found methylamphetamine use was highest in South Australia, a report by the National Waste Monitoring Drug Program says.
Across the nine sites monitored through August, which included a mix of regional and capital cities, Adelaide had the highest capital city consumption of ice.
Cocaine and MDMA consumption also increased across the state but oxycodone consumption decreased in Adelaide.
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"Illicit drug use is also costing Australia billions of dollars every year in lost productivity and healthcare and crime costs," Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission chief executive Michael Phelan said.
The state government said it recognised the problem and had spent $8 million this year to tackle the issue.
"It demonstrates the need for a statewide but also a national response," Substance Abuse Minister Peter Malinauskas said.
Opposition police spokesman Stephen Knoll said more needed to be done to change people's attitudes.
"It has become a cultural problem and we need to change people's behaviours and the best way to do that is to get them into a (rehabilitation) program," Mr Knoll told ABC radio on Thursday.
