EUKN - European Urban Knowledge Network - The state of the drug problem in Europe 2006

The state of the drug problem in Europe 2006

Introduction

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) annually publishes an overview of data on the use of illegal substances in the European Union. It monitors the trends in drug use amongst Europe’s citizens and developments in European and national drug policies. It gives a clear picture of the state of the drug problem in Europe: the challenges at hand and the solutions that are implemented.

Description

The state of the drug problem in Europe 2006 starts with an analysis of European and national laws addressing drug problems. It provides an overview of current practices aimed at fighting drug crime and drug abuse. For each sort of drug a detailed picture of the current challenges and risks is painted. The report is available in 23 languages on the EMCDDA website.

Background information

The report is based on information provided to the EMCDDA by the EU27, Norway and Turkey in the form of a national report. The statistical data reported here relate to the year 2004 (or the last year available).

Methodology

The 2006 statistical bulletin presents the full set of source tables on which the statistical analysis in the annual report is based. It also provides further details on the methodology used and over 100 additional statistical graphs. You can browse through the 2006 statistical bulletin below.

Conclusions

A continuing trend is that national drug laws emphasise more strongly a distinction between offences of drug possession for personal use and those involving trafficking and supply.
This development is in line with a greater emphasis overall across Europe on widening the opportunities for drug treatment by diverting those with drug problems away from the criminal justice system towards treatment and rehabilitation options.
Heroin use remains a big problem - in many countries opioids (largely heroin) remain the principal drugs for which clients seek treatment, accounting for about 60 per cent of all recorded treatment requests in 2004.
There are worrying indicators that the number of drug-related deaths, which has generally declined since 2000, increased slightly in a majority of countries in 2004.
Available city-based estimates of drug-related mortality (overdose and other causes) suggest that currently 10–23 per cent of overall mortality among adults aged 15–49 can be attributed to opioid use.

Contact info

European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction
Kathy Robertson (Head of Media relations and marketing), tel. +351 218 11 30 00

Publication date

01/12/2006

Links

Browse through the 2006 statistical bulletin Visit the EMCDDA website

Download the State of the Drug Problem 2006 (PDF, Eng, 1.5 MB)

Document type

research

Themes

Urban Policy > Social inclusion & integration > Quality of life

Keywords

Social services