Under the illusion of its defeat

Europe needs “a concrete cooperation network of Countries and social public and private agencies promoting projects and services” against drug-addiction: it’s the hope of Riccardo De Facci, in charge of Drug-Addiction for the CNCA (National co-ordinating office of rehabilitation centres – Italy) and advisor on the use, consumption and abuse of narcotics. He was interviewed by SIR Europe during the presentation in Brussels on November 6 of the “Annual Report 2008: evolution of the drug phenomenon”, by the EMCDDA (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction), (cf SIR Europe 77/2008 ). According to the EMCDDA Report (www.emcdda.europa.eu) cannabis is the most widespread drug in Europe (a quarter of the adult population made use of it at least once in their lives), followed by “stimulating” substances like amphetamines, ecstasy, and cocaine. The heroine-risk remains high.What is the most significant novelty in the European Agency’s report?“The Report describes the evolution of the phenomena throughout the different European Countries, starting from quantitative parameters shared across Europe, preferably on non-ideological basis. This led to the uncovering of unexpected data when compared to information conveyed by the single States whose interpretation is often influenced by the governments’ ideological stances. Italy, Spain and Great Britain are the three States registering the highest consumption of cocaine. This means there are many drug-addicts that are not in touch with social services operating in this area and that innovative measures should be implemented in order to improve access on the part of those asking for help when it’s already too late”. What is the reason for the drop in amphetamine and ecstasy consumption? Are these out of fashion?“The increasing use of cocaine consumption in all environments and social classes, along with the drop in cocaine dose costs, partly accounts for the quest for exciting substances and performance anxiety triggering methamphetamine consumption. To this – caused by the reorganization of the illegal market – is added the drop in the number of illegal clubs and rave parties, where methamphetamine consumption was more frequent. Also music trends related to this form of drug-consumption are considered out of fashion. Unfortunately, the global quality and content of the narcotic pills is worsening, with serious risks related to the production and diffusion of methamphetamines (tablets, pastes, etc.) whose home-made production is increasing with the blending of other increasingly dangerous substances that are out of control”. Despite the fact that 7/8 thousand people still die of overdose, there is no major social alarm. Why? “In the past ten years, social and health policies against overdose led to a significant drop in the number of deaths for overdose. This decrease led us to envisage a limited number of deaths for heroine, overlooking the still high number of deaths for overdose, that isn’t only linked to heroine. Serious situations do still exist at local level that require specific urgent responses, which however are being delayed”. Are there differences in drug consumption between Eastern and Western Europe? “East-European countries are marked by widespread heroine consumption especially among the weaker brackets, and of cocaine among the new rich. According to estimates, there are one million heroine consumers in Russia alone. The lack of investments in the creation of a widespread ad-hoc intervention system in the East European Countries is reason for concern, given the widespread drug consumption. There are no prevention policies directed to schools and the youth, which would protect the new generations from these sick fruits of modernity”. Is enough being done at European level to counter this phenomenon?“The most upsetting fact is that no coordinate intervention nor cooperation policies are envisaged between the different Countries. Given the ever-more globalized narcotics market, our ‘mafias’ regularly export and deal with various European ‘mafias’. There should be a network linking the different European Countries, as among the different public and private social work agencies, enabling the implementation of projects and services. In Italy, for example, no national investments to promote innovative projects and research have been made for years. The lack of investments to counter a tragically increasing phenomenon, risks restoring an outdated intervention system in charge of addressing ever-new problems due to the increase in the number of narcotic substances and the different consumption modalities”.