Thousands of positive drug tests in Queensland's prisons

The results were detailed in an answer to a question on notice tabled during Queensland estimates hearings.

The prescription drug buprenorphine, taken as a replacement in the treatment of heroin and methadone dependence, was the most popular behind bars, with more than 1000 positive tests in the past year.

Corrective Services Minister Mark Ryan said targeted drug testing was conducted based on intelligence or obvious physical symptoms, with prisoners who previously returned a positive result increasingly targeted.

Queensland Corrective Services also does random urine testing each week within high- and low-security facilities.

Prisoners are chosen on a random basis after the generation of weekly lists.

Mr Ryan said the government had zero tolerance for drugs in prison.

"Barrier controls, searches, engagement in drug education and intervention programs, intelligence information and regular targeted and random drug testing are among the strategies used to keep drugs out of prisons," he said.

"Should a prisoner return a positive drug test or fail to provide a sample, swift action is taken."

Mr Ryan said assaults on prison officers were reducing, despite growth in the number of prisoners, due to body worn cameras, training and other policies.

In 2017-18, six staff were victims of a serious assault, at a rate of 0.07 per 100 prisoners — a decrease from 0.11 per 100 prisoners the previous year.

Forty-nine staff were victims of an assault, at a rate of 0.57 per 100 prisoners, a decrease on last year's rate of 1.01.

Meanwhile, people were most likely to contact the non-emergency Policelink phone number or website to complain about noise or parties, with 60,808 reports in the past year.

There were 20,229 reports of fuel drive-offs from petrol stations, while 10,459 complaints were about hoons.