Archive of EMCDDA and drug-related news

Drug use, a growing challenge for EU road safety, says EU drugs agency

(11.12.2008, LISBON) As Europeans prepare for the festive season, the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) releases today its latest report on drugs and driving. While alcohol remains the number one substance endangering lives on European roads, more drivers are now found to be using illicit drugs and psychoactive medicines, presenting a growing challenge for policy-makers. The report, Drug use, impaired driving and traffic accidents, a review of the latest research in this field, explores the potential impact on road safety. A multilingual summary of the report is also available.

Wastewater analysis, a promising prospect for drug monitoring, says EMCDDA

(3.12.2008 LISBON) A novel approach to monitoring illicit drug use in the community is showcased by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) today in the latest edition of its Insights series. Entitled Assessing illicit drugs in wastewater: Potential and limitations of a new monitoring approach, the report looks at how analysing communal wastewater (e.g. from treatment plants) for residues of illicit drugs can provide real-time insights into local drug consumption levels and changing trends. A multilingual summary of the report is also available.

Amphetamine and ecstasy trends stable, but cocaine use still on the rise

(06.11.2008, LISBON) Stimulant drugs — such as amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine — are the second most commonly consumed drug type in Europe today, after cannabis. But within this group, data reveal a very mixed picture in terms of prevalence, trends and market developments. The statement comes from the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) today, as it launches its Annual report 2008: the state of the drugs problem in Europe in Brussels.

Some 12 million Europeans (15–64 years) have tried cocaine in their lifetime, compared with around 11 million for amphetamines and 9.5 million for ecstasy. While the latest European data confirm reports of a stabilising or even declining trend in the use of amphetamines and ecstasy, they point to a continued rise in cocaine use, albeit in a limited number of countries. Also presented today is a new picture of Europe’s ‘divided market’ for illicit stimulants...

Warning signs over Europe’s biggest drug problem, says EU drugs agency

(6.11.2008, LISBON EMBARGO 10:00 CET/Brussels time) Signs of change in Europe’s heroin problem mean that countries need to be vigilant and prepared to respond. The statement comes from the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) today, as it launches its Annual report 2008: the state of the drugs problem in Europe in Brussels.

The EMCDDA estimates that there are between 1.3 and 1.7 million problem opioid users in the EU and Norway, with heroin responsible for Europe’s largest drug-related health and social costs. Data published today call into question previous EMCDDA assessments of a slowly improving heroin situation and point to a ‘stable but no longer diminishing problem’. Record opium production in Afghanistan in 2007 has also heightened the agency’s worries over a potential knock-on effect on Europe’s heroin problem.

A cool-headed analysis of what we know about today’s drug situation is an essential condition for an informed, productive and reasoned debate on this complex issue. Such an analysis ensures that opinions are enlightened by facts, and that those making difficult policy choices have a clear understanding of the options available and the benefits they may bring. This is the rationale behind our Annual report 2008: the state of the drugs problem in Europe, which we are proud to present today in Brussels.

The past year has been an unprecedented one for reflection, at European and global level, on how drug policies have performed to date and what directions should be pursued in future.

The EMCDDA has contributed actively at both these levels...

The full message from the EMCDDA's Director on the occasion of the launch of the 2008 Annual report is available below in 23 languages.

Drugs and vulnerable groups of young people

‘With up to 2 million problem drug users in the EU, it's high time to raise awareness of vulnerable groups, especially youth, on the risks of drug taking.’

European Commission Vice-President Jacques Barrot, September 2008.

Social policy in Europe has long identified disadvantaged populations who manifest potential for social exclusion. These ‘vulnerable groups’ are specific groups among the wider population that may be more prone to a range of problems, from ill health, substance use and poor diet, to lower educational achievement. Groups of young people identified as vulnerable — examples include children in care institutions or homeless young people — might be prone to earlier, more frequent, or more problematic drug use. They might also experience faster progression to problem drug use.

The Selected issue is available here. Summaries in 23 languages are available below.

Directors meet in Lisbon and discuss development and governance of agencies

(24.10.2008, LISBON) From Stockholm to Crete and Lisbon to Warsaw, 29 EU agencies have been established in Europe over the last three decades to provide services, information and know-how to the Member States and their citizens. Seeing the need to cooperate on administrative and policy issues of common interest, the directors of the agencies established a network in the mid-1990s. This week in Lisbon the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) plays host to a meeting of the directors, in its current role of coordinator of the network until February 2009.

Annual report 2008 from the EU drugs agency

(20.10.2008, LISBON) The latest facts, figures and trends on drugs in Europe will be addressed in the upcoming Annual report 2008: the state of the drugs problem in Europe,from the Lisbon-based EU drugs agency, the EMCDDA. The report offers an overview of the drug situation across the 27EU Member States, Croatia, Turkey and Norway, and details the current legal, political, social and health responses.

EMCDDA publishes report on national drug-related research in Europe

(17.10.2008, LISBON) Drug-related research is crucial to Europe’s understanding of its drug problems. Research enables Europe to learn lessons from the past, sharpens its awareness and monitoring of the present and helps countries prepare for the future. Yet building a picture of drug-related research in Europe remains challenging. A new selected issue, National drug-related research in Europe, published today by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA), aims to respond to this challenge. Multilingual summaries of the key findings are available.

High-level Andean visit to EU drugs agency

(22.09.2008, LISBON) Francisco Santos Calderón, Vice-President of Colombia and Rómulo Pizarro, President of the Peruvian National Commission for Development and a Drug-free Life (DEVIDA), visited the Lisbon-based EU drugs agency today during their two-day visit to Portugal.

Colombia and Peru, the world’s largest producers of the coca bush — the source of cocaine — have joined forces in a common strategy to tackle the cocaine problem, based on the principle of ‘shared responsibility’. The strategy aims to raise awareness in Europe of the need for greater investment in combating the negative environmental impact of coca production and in reducing cocaine supply and demand. Europe is now among the biggest cocaine markets in the world, along with the US, Canada and Australia.

EU drugs agency publishes major work on cannabis

(26.06.2008, LISBON) Smoked, eaten, imbibed — or just talked about — it seems the world has a strong taste for cannabis. An estimated one in five European adults have tried it at some point in their lives. Over 13 million Europeans have consumed it in the past month. Globally, nearly 50 000 tonnes of cannabis herb or resin are produced for consumption every year. Little wonder, then, that cannabis has become a controversial cultural phenomenon.

On International day against drug abuse and illicit trafficking, cannabis comes under the spotlight as the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) releases its largest scientific monograph to date: A cannabis reader: global issues and local experiences — Perspectives on cannabis controversies, treatment and regulation in Europe. In over 700 pages, leading European experts provide informed insight into a wide range of cannabis topics: from political, legislative, economic and social developments to prevention, treatment and healthcare.

Promotional flyer on the monograph in English

Summary in 24 languages

EMCDDA launches best-practice portal

(22.05.2008, LISBON) Real-life solutions to drug problems come under the spotlight today as the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) launches its new Internet portal on best practice in the areas of drug-related prevention, treatment, harm reduction and social reintegration (www.emcdda.europa.eu/themes/best-practice).

The portal project, which concentrates on illicit drugs and polydrug use, responds to the current EU drugs action plan (2005–08) which calls for the 'effective dissemination of evaluated best practices'. This theme also features in the EMCDDA’s new mission statement (2007), which prioritises ‘monitoring the solutions applied to drug-related problems; providing information on best practices in the Member States and facilitating the exchange of such practices among them’.

Drug problems have no age limits, says EMCDDA

(03.04.2008, LISBON) ‘Substance use is generally associated with young people, but such problems have no age limits’, says the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA). In the latest edition of its Drugs in focus series out today, entitled ‘Substance use among older adults: a neglected problem’, it says: ‘forecasts for the coming years are troubling’.

EU drugs agency reports emerging trend in use of GBL

17.3.2008, LISBON) Concerns are increasing in the EU about the use of chemicals employed in the manufacture of the recreational drug GHB. The statement comes in a new report GHB and its precursor GBL: an emerging trend case study, published today by the EU drugs agency (EMCDDA) as part of its E-POD project to track new patterns of drug use in Europe.

New drug BZP to be placed under control across the EU

(3.3.2008, LISBON) Europe has responded today to concerns over the use of the stimulant drug BZP by subjecting it to ‘control measures and criminal provisions’ across the EU Member States. The decision of the Council of the EU was adopted today in the final stage of a three-step procedure designed to respond to potentially threatening new psychoactive drugs in the EU.

EU drugs agency ‘performing well’, say evaluators

(30.1.2008) ‘How effective is the EMCDDA?’, ‘Is it achieving its tasks and goals?’, ‘What benefits is it providing for the EU and its Member States?’ and ‘Are its activities coherent with those launched by the EU institutions in the drugs field?’. These were among the questions addressed in an independent evaluation of the agency, undertaken at the initiative of the European Commission in 2007. The results of the year-long exercise, carried out by the UK-based Centre for Strategy and Evaluation Services (CSES), were presented to the EMCDDA Management Board in December 2007 and are released today on the agency’s website.

The overall purpose of the evaluation was to assess the effectiveness of the agency and examine ways of enhancing its operations. The exercise covered the period of two EMCDDA three-year work programmes (2001–2003 and 2004–2006).

EMCDDA and ESPAD seal cooperation framework

(23.01.2008) The EMCDDA and the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) will be working together more closely in future thanks to a cooperation framework recently agreed by the two bodies.

The cooperation framework, established through a formal exchange of letters at the end of 2007 between the EMCDDA Director and the ESPAD Coordinator, sets out an eight-point list of areas for collaboration.