Potent synthetic substances, new drug mixtures and changing consumption patterns pose a growing threat in Europe. These are some of the questions posed by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) at the presentation of the European Drug Report 2024.

Drug availability remains high in Europe, where the market offers a diverse range of products. Drug users are now more exposed to a wider range of psychotropic substances, usually of high potency and purity or in new forms, mixtures and combinations.

The study highlights concerns about potent synthetic opioids, sometimes sold deceptively or mixed with medications and other drugs. For example, by the end of 2023, the EMCDDA was monitoring some 950 new psychoactive substances, 26 of which were reported for the first time in Europe that year.

Heroin remains the most widely used illicit opioid in Europe and is responsible for a significant proportion of the health problems associated with illicit drug use. Most of the heroin consumed in Europe comes from Afghanistan.

For the sixth consecutive year, EU member states seized record amounts of cocaine, reaching 323 tons in 2022. European interventions already exceed those carried out in the United States, historically considered the world’s largest cocaine market. Belgium (111 tonnes), Spain (58.3 tonnes) and the Netherlands (51.5 tonnes) represent 68% of the total amount seized, reflecting the persistent focus of drug traffickers on logistical supply chains.

There are indications that the high availability of cocaine in Europe is having an increasingly negative impact on public health. It is the most widely used illicit stimulant drug in Europe, accounting forabout 1.4% (4 million) of European adults (aged 15-64) in the past year. The paper reports that cocaine is increasingly available in Europe, with a wider geographical and social distribution.

The evolution of the cannabis market is creating new challenges in terms of how countries respond to the most widely consumed illegal drug in Europe. It is also known that some products sold on the illegal market as cannabis can be adulterated as potent synthetic cannabinoids.

It is estimated that around 8% of European adults (22.8 million) aged 15-64 years have used cannabis in the past year and prevalence rises to 15% (15.1 million) among adults aged 15-34 years.

Cannabis use can cause or exacerbate a range of physical and mental health problems, including chronic respiratory problems, dependence and psychotic symptoms.

Five EU member states (the Czech Republic, Germany, Luxembourg, Malta and the Netherlands), plus Switzerland, have changed or plan to change their approach to recreational cannabis use and supply. These changes, which include home growing, non-profit cultivation clubs and private cannabis use, are described in the report and the need to invest in monitoring and evaluation to fully understand their impact on public health and safety is highlighted.

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