Do not lower the guard

The 2013 Report on Drugs by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) in Lisbon reveals a situation marked by lights and shades. The annual review shows that the problem of the of the spread and consumption of drugs is “in a state of flux”, with “new threats emerging that challenge current models of policy and practice”. The EU agency montiros drug consumption, its impact on public health and health systems, the confiscation of banned substances, the manufacturing and production lines, smuggling activities, the social questions involved therein, including prevention activity among the youth and drug consumption in detention centres.  Alarming figures. In its 2013 Report, issued May 28 in the Lisbon seat, the EU agency describes “positive developments” in relation to “the more established drugs, such as fewer new users of heroin, less injecting and declining use of cannabis and cocaine in some countries”. But these figures “are offset by concerns over synthetic stimulants and new psychoactive substances”, offered both on the illicit, and so-called “‘legal highs’, market”. The agency reports a high number of drug consumers entering treatment in public health centres across Europe. But “given the large number of drug users in contact today with the services, it becomes increasingly necessary to ensure continuity of care and social rehabilitation “. Among the problems identified figures “the need to invest in new initiatives, such as those designed for the treatment of hepatitis C”. Cannabis, heroin. “An estimated 77 million European adults (15-64 years) “have tried cannabis in their lifetime”, around 20 million “reporting to have used it in the last year”. It is one of the findings of the EMCDDA review that is divided into numerous chapters, specifically focusing on cannabis, heroin, cocaine, synthetic stimulants and new substances. The Agency states: “latest data show how herbal cannabis (‘marijuana’), sometimes of high potency, is becoming more common in Europe” and that almost all countries now reporting some domestic cultivation of this product”. Estimated 3 million Europeans (15-64 years) use the drug on a daily, or almost daily, basis (around 1% of European adults). Across Europe, the number of those entering specialist drug treatment for the first time for heroin problems fell and there was an ‘overall decrease in the proportion of injectors which is likely to have contributed to the decline in new drug-related HIV infections in Europe. But the report signals “recent HIV outbreaks in Greece and Romania”, highlighting the persistence of heroin consumption with direct – dependence, death – and indirect – pathologies, marginalization, poverty – consequences. Cocaine and ecstasy. “Over the last decade, cocaine has established itself as the most commonly used illicit stimulant drug in Europe, although most users are found in a small number of western EU countries”. For the agency in Lisbon around 14.5 million have tried cocaine in their lifetime; around 3.5 million reporting to have used it in the last year. Moreover, recent surveys show signs of falling use among young adults (15-34 years), in the five highest-prevalence countries (Denmark, Ireland, Spain, Italy and UK)”. Amphetamines and ecstasy remain the most commonly used synthetic stimulants in Europe, “competing to some extent with cocaine”. Over 12 million Europeans are estimated to have tried amphetamines and methamphetamines in their lifetime; around 2 million reporting to have used them in the last year. To them should be added ecstasy consumers. According to the Report, “In recent years, the popularity of this drug appears to have declined, probably reflecting the poor ‘quality’ (purity or MDMA content) of tablets sold as ‘ecstasy’. But there is some evidence that there is renewed interest in this drug”. Equal concern is expressed for fact that over 70 new drugs have been detected in the last year.Environmental answers. “Drug use is one of the major causes of mortality among young people in Europe, both directly through overdose (drug-induced deaths) and indirectly through drug-related diseases and accidents, violence and suicide”. Young people who use drugs show higher mortality rates (deaths by up to 10-20 times higher than peers who do not use drugs). “For 2011, the average mortality rate due to overdoses in Europe is estimated at 6500 deaths”. The Agency, in addition to assessing the spread of drugs, attached a series of studies on “responses” to drug addiction, including prevention, recovery and social reintegration of former drug addicts aimed at “at strengthening social skills, education and employment” and to meet the housing needs.