Melburnians consume more heroine than the residents of any other Australian capital city, while regional Victorians have the highest use of MDMA and oxycodone.

The findings are from the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission’s seventh annual wastewater analysis, which found that Melbourne residents also have the nation’s second-highest cocaine consumption – behind only Sydney.

The study also found heroin use in Australian capital cities was at its highest level since monitoring began in August 2016.

The ACIC report covers about 12.6 million people, or 54 per cent of the population. It examined wastewater at 50 treatment plants across the nation for 13 substances.

“The Australian community continues to consume illicit drugs at concerning levels,” ACIC chief Michael Phelan said.

While Victoria is ahead on heroin, MDMA and oxycodone consumption, the national figures show nicotine and alcohol are the most highly consumed drugs as measured by the program.

Of the illegal drugs, methylamphetamine remains the highest consumed by far.

Australians consumed 9847 kilograms of meth in the year to the end of August 2018, the fresh analysis of wastewater data found.

This was followed by 4115 kilograms of cocaine, 1162 kilograms of MDMA and 750 kilograms of cocaine.

Of the states, NSW led the country in cocaine consumption, Queensland and South Australia favoured fentanyl while the Northern Territory had the highest consumption of alcohol and nicotine.

Western Australia continued to produce some of the highest meth consumption levels in capital city and regional areas. Tasmania had the highest average capital city consumption of MDMA, oxycodone, fentanyl and cannabis nationally.

-with AAP