Wasted lives: Queensland's drugs battle

The increasing threat posed by synthetic drugs readily available online or in stores as "legal highs" and the rise of social drug users are causing serious concern among those at the pointy end of Queensland's drug battle.

The evidence of the social drug culture is on display every Saturday night in pubs and clubs across the state.

The fall-out is acutely felt by emergency workers from hospital casualty departments to frontline police.

Experts are concerned about the rise of the social drug user.

Over the past month, Fairfax Media has explored the issues around the production and distribution of drugs in Queensland, the effects on users, and the impacts on those desperately working to stem the tide and tackle the toll.

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In this special series Wasted Lives: Queensland's Drug Battle, police, emergency physicians, the state's corruption watchdog, and those most affected by illicit substances describe the drug scene as they see it today.

About one in six Queenslanders had used illicit drugs in the 12 months leading up to the 2010 National Drug Survey involving almost 27,000 Australians.

The Queensland figure outstripped the national average of 14.7 per cent and was the third highest behind the Northern Territory with 21.3 per cent and Western Australia with 18.6 per cent.

Cannabis was the most commonly used illicit drug in Queensland ahead of ecstasy, methamphetamines, cocaine and hallucinogens.

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Wasted lives: Queensland's drugs battle