Brits might do so much coke that it's turning up in our water supply, but Australians are doing their best to keep up on the other side of the world. According to this year's United Nations World Drug Report, the country ranks number one for ecstasy consumption with the highest proportion of recreational drug users in the world.

Australia also ranks third for the consumption of methamphetamines and fourth for cocaine. The study also found that drug use in the country continues to rise, with experts pointing to "an increase in the consumption of cannabis, cocaine, hallucinogens, and solvents and inhalants."

Cocaine use is the only Aussie habit that hasn't increased as quickly, probably owing to the hugely inflated price of the drug – a gram of coke is about four times as expensive as in the UK, making it a habit reserved only for Australia's wealthy. 

Australian Drug Law Reform Foundation president Dr Alex Wodak said that the increase in drug use is down to a cash-rich new generation as well as a growing underclass of users.

"There is certainly greater demand for drugs and that is likely because of economic and social conditions," Wodak told the Australian Daily Telegraph. "People on one hand have more money to spend and on the other there are more people who are at risk — and those that are at risk are getting worse because of high unemployment, poor job prospects, lack of optimism."