Country overview: Austria
- Situation summary
- Data sheet
- Barometer
Contents
- Drug use among the general population and young people
- Prevention
- Problem drug use
- Treatment demand
- Drug-related infectious diseases
- Drug-related deaths
- Treatment responses
- Harm reduction responses
- Drug markets and drug-related offences
- National drug laws
- National drug strategy
- Coordination mechanism in the field of drugs
- Drug-related research
| Year | Austria | EU (27 countries) | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2008 | 8 331 930 | 497 455 033 | Eurostat | |
| Population by age classes | 15–24 | 2008 | 12.3 % | 12.6 % 1 | Eurostat |
| 25–49 | 37.5 % | 36.3 % 1 | |||
| 50–64 | 17.8 % | 18.4 % 1 | |||
| GDP per capita in PPS (Purchasing Power Standards) 2 | 2007 | 124 | 100 | Eurostat | |
| Total expenditure on social protection (% of GDP) 3 | 2006 | 28.5 % | 26.9 % p | Eurostat | |
| Unemployment rate 4 | 2008 | 3.8 % | 7 % | Eurostat | |
| Unemployment rate of population agends under 25 years | 2008 | 7.5 % | 15.5 % | Eurostat | |
| Prison population rate (per 100 000 of national population) 5 | 2006 | 105.4 | Council of Europe, SPACE 2006.1 | ||
| At risk of poverty rate 6 | 2006 | 13 % | 16 % 7 | SILC, 2007 |
|
p Eurostat provisional value.
1 2007 figures.
2 Gross domestic product (GDP) is a measure of economic activity. It is defined as the value of all goods and services produced less the value of any goods or services used in their creation. The volume index of GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS) is expressed in relation to the European Union (EU-27) average set to equal 100. If the index of a country is higher than 100, this country's level of GDP per head is higher than the EU average and vice versa.
3 Expenditure on social protection contains: benefits, which consist of transfers, in cash or in kind to households and individuals to relieve them of the burden of a defined set of risks or needs.
4 Unemployment rates represent unemployed persons as a percentage of the labour force. Unemployed persons comprise persons aged 15 to 74 who were: (a) without work during the reference week; (b) currently available for work; (c) actively seeking work.
5 Situation of penal institutions on 1 September, 2006.
6 Share of persons aged 0+ with an equivalent disposable income below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold in the current year and in at least two of the preceding three years.
7 EU-25 countries.
Drug use among the general population and young people
In 2007, in the framework of a drug survey in Vienna, a representative sample of 624 persons aged 15 or older were interviewed with regard to their experience of licit and illicit psychoactive substances. The results demonstrated a rise in lifetime and last year prevalence of illicit drugs compared to 2005, except for opioids (remained at the level of 2005). Cannabis was the most frequently-used drug in terms of lifetime prevalence. For all substances, percentages are higher among men than women except for ecstasy, for which there is no difference between gender.
In the year 2007, the ESPAD survey among 15–16 years old pupils, showed an estimated life time prevalence of 18 % for cannabis, followed by 14 % for inhalants and other volatiles substances, 8 % for amphetamines and 3 % for cocaine. Lifetime prevalence of cannabis is higher among males (19 %) than females (15 %). Last year prevalence of cannabis was 14 % and last month was 7 %. In 2003, lifetime prevalence of cannabis was 21 %, it was 14 % for inhalants and other volatile substances and 5 % for amphetamines.
Prevention
The main objectives and features of prevention policy in Austria are to expand prevention measures to broader areas of social life, especially those which are relevant to young people. Generally, prevention focuses on the prevention of addiction and not on illicit drugs, per se. The implementation of curricular school-based prevention programmes is considered highly relevant, and the goals that are primarily pursued include improvements in the entire system as well as strengthening personalities, psychosocial skills and life skills among pupils. In the older age groups, another relevant objective is to promote critical approaches to (licit as well as illicit) psychoactive substances. Programmes comprise: training courses on addiction prevention; preparation of teaching materials and projects; practical assistance for teachers, heads of school and school medical officers in planning and implementing prevention activities. Theatre education plays an important role as an approach to prevention which, apart from awareness-raising regarding difficult situations, primarily aims at communicating possible forms of getting active. Measures addressing parents primarily concentrate on addiction and prevention information events.
Selective prevention is mostly targeted at adolescents outside school and young people experimenting with drugs, and programmes benefit from very high political and practical visibility. In addition to the aforementioned focus, prevention activities for specific target groups are primarily found in spare time settings, with the aim to communicate a critical approach to psychoactive substances (risk competence) as well as alternatives to substance use. In this context, youth social work in recreational settings plays an important role. These programmes targeting clubs and party scenes are carried out by NGOs and have a focus on counselling, information provision and sometimes on-site pill testing. New approaches such as a counselling centre for recreational drug users in Vienna, and awareness-raising activities aimed at immigrants to make it easier for these young people and their parents to get access to information and existing assistance services were also introduced. Austria has now a systematic monitoring system on prevention interventions in place.
Problem drug use
Estimates on the number of problem drug users in Austria are available for polydrug use, including opiates (thus, corresponding to the EMCDDA ‘problem opioid use’). Intravenous use of cocaine in the form of excessive cocaine use over several weeks (cocaine binge patterns) has also become more visible in the street scene. The most recent estimate for 2007 indicates a prevalence of 4.1 PDUs per 1 000 inhabitants aged 15–64 (95 % CI: 4.0–4.3, 23 178 users ranging from 22 198 to 24 157). The increase observed between 2001 and 2005 did not continue; the most recent figures have returned to the 2002 level.
The EMCDDA defines problem drug use as intravenous drug use (IDU) or long duration/regular drug use of opiates, cocaine and/or amphetamines. Ecstasy and cannabis are not included in this category.
Treatment demand
A nationwide treatment documentation system on drug treatment centres referred to as DOKLI was initiated in 2005. In 2007, treatment demand data was gathered from 128 outpatient treatment centres out of the 138 outpatient centres and 27 inpatient treatment centres out of the 38 inpatient treatment centres across Austria.
In 2007, a total of 5 611 clients entered in treatment out of which 1 926 clients were first-time treatment clients. Data regarding all clients entering treatment suggests that 67.5 % reported that opioids as their primary drug, followed by 19.4 % for cannabis and 7.5 % for cocaine. Among first-time treatment clients, a similar distribution was identified, with 50.7 % for opioids followed by 34.1 % for cannabis and 8.9 % for cocaine.
Furthermore, in 2007, 49 % of all clients entering treatment were less than 25 years. A higher percentage in age distribution was reported among new treatment clients, with 62 % under the age of 25 years. As far as gender distribution is concerned, 75 % of all clients entering treatment were male whereas 25 % were female. A similar distribution in gender distribution was reported among first-time treatment clients, with 78 % for male and 22 % for female.
Drug-related infectious diseases
The prevalence of infectious diseases among IDUs can only be estimated on the basis of a few small samples from treatment facilities and low-threshold centres in Austria. In 2007, the prevalence rates of HIV among IDUs (who had injected drugs at least once in their lives) in contact with such services ranged from 0–4 % based on data from drug help centres to 3 % and 6 %, based on data from drug-related deaths data.
The available data for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence rates indicate a high level of infection. In 2007, rates established based on the same sources as for HIV (with the exception of drug-related deaths where no data was available for HBV) ranged from 7–22 % for HBV and 20–63 % for HCV. Compared to the previous year, the ranges for HBV and HCV rates slightly decreased. However the data are based partly on voluntary and on mandatory tests, and are thus not independent, which undermines any solid interpretation.
Drug-related deaths
The special registry at the Austrian focal point collects data on drug-related deaths. It includes deaths due to the direct and indirect consequences of drug use. The data from the registry are available as drug-related deaths (DRD) standards, a standard protocol for extracting data on drug-related deaths from registers in the Member States of the European Union (which includes acute deaths directly related to drug consumption or overdoses).
According to the DRD standard definition for Special Registries, in 2007 for the first time since five years, the number of direct drug-related deaths went down from 197 in 2006 to 175 in 2007 (191 in 2005, 185 in 2004, and 163 in 2003). For 2007, 87 % of the cases were based on known toxicological examinations. As in previous years, polydrug intoxications with opiates predominated (97 % of all intoxication cases where known substances were reported).
Treatment responses
All nine Austrian provinces have drawn up drug strategies and nominated drug coordinators, which are responsible for coordinating drug treatment at a regional level. One drug coordinator is appointed for accreditation and monitoring of treatment at national level under the Ministry of Health. Inter-regional coordination of drug treatment policies is performed by the Provincial Conference of Drug Coordinators. Drug treatment is financed primarily by the Provincial Governments, the social insurance funds and the Federal Government. NGOs and the public sector at regional level are the major actors in the delivery of drug-related treatment. Furthermore, office-based medical doctors also play a major role in treatment delivery as they are largely involved in substitution treatment provision.
Drug treatment in Austria is mostly provided on an outpatient basis; with the majority of the outpatient centres being counselling centres. While counselling centres address both users of licit and illicit drugs, there are several specialised treatment and reintegration facilities available almost exclusively for clients dependent on illicit substances. Outpatient psychosocial interventions cover a range of different services such as counselling, outreach work, psychotherapy, aftercare and reintegration programmes. Inpatient psychosocial interventions are provided in specific, as well as in generic facilities, offering long-term and short-term treatment, often together with inpatient detoxification. Detoxification treatment is primarily carried out in inpatient facilities, but increasingly also in outpatient settings.
Substitution treatment is widely available, covering all types of substitution substances, and is often provided by general practitioners. In recent years, there has been a trend to use slow-release morphine and also buprenorphine, rather than methadone. Substitution substances must be prescribed by a psychiatrist or physician, as stipulated in the Oral Substitution Treatment of Opiate Addicts. A long-term prescription needs to be signed by a medical officer. Furthermore, since 2005, the Oral Substitution Further Training Decree stipulates that general practitioners need to attend training in order to be qualified and authorised to deliver substitution treatment. The qualification licence is valid for three years.
In 2007, a total of 10 452 clients were receiving opioid substitution treatment.
Harm reduction responses
Reduction of drug-related harm embraces a wide range of interventions addressing drug users or problem drug users in Austria. Most measures are oriented towards low-threshold assistance and to reducing the risk of problematic consequences of drug use. In addition, specific methodological approaches such as peer support are increasingly being employed in the framework of harm reduction. Outreach work is of central importance in this context. Outreach ranges from street work to hospital connection services. Within low-threshold services, the prevention of infectious diseases is a major component of harm reduction. Relevant activities in this field include the provision of information, syringe exchange and vaccination programmes as well as counselling. As regards the general state of health of drug users, the themes of gynaecological healthcare and pregnancy have become central aspects of the services addressing women. Syringe exchange programmes have been successfully established in Austria, as shown by the continuous rise in the number of syringes sold or exchanged, especially in the most recent years. The number of syringes increased from 1.7 million in 2003 to nearly 3.2 million in 2007. Exchange of needles and syringes is available at low-threshold services, outpatient drug services, through syringe vending machines and pharmacies. All centres that communicated figures on syringe exchange in 2007 stated that there were further increases of both the sale and exchange of injection equipment, and constant good return rates of between 94 % and 98 %. Safer use and risk reduction in recreational settings is also considered an important feature of reducing drug-related harm. For example, the organisation Check-it! provides information material and drug-checking services to users in these settings.
Drug markets and drug-related offences
According to the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior, the most frequent drug-related offences in Austria are concerning cannabis followed by cocaine and heroin. In 2007, cannabis accounted for to 53.8 % of all drug law offences, followed by 12 % for cocaine and 9 % for heroin.
In 2007, a decline in the quantity of seizures was registered for all cannabis related drugs with a total quantity of 887 kg of herbal cannabis, 223.83 kg of cannabis plants and 164 kg of cannabis resin in 2007 when compared to 2006. Furthermore, a substantial decrease was also reported for LSD with a total of 1 058 units of LSD seized in 2007 when compared to a total of 10 832 units of LSD seized in 2006. On the other hand, a substantial increase in the quantity of seizures was reported in 2007 for heroin and ecstasy when compared to 2006. A total of 117 kg of heroin was seized and a total of 66 167 ecstasy tablets were seized in 2007.
For the first time in 2007, a special analysis of seizures of pharmaceuticals containing addictive substances was conducted. This analysis indicated that the number of substitution substances seized has strongly increased over the years, from a total of 328 substitution substances seizures in 2002 to a 1 081 in 2005.
In Austria, price estimates of the various drugs sold at street level is provided by the Ministry of the Interior. The 2007 data shows that the average retail price for cannabis products was EUR 8/gram for cannabis resin and EUR 9/gram for herbal cannabis. Furthermore, in 2007, the average retail price for synthetic drugs was EUR 25/gram for amphetamines, EUR 25/gram for methamphetamines, EUR 10/tablet for ecstasy and EUR 30/unit for LSD.
National drug laws
In Austria, the Narcotic Substance Act entered into force in 1998, and continued the Austrian drug policy approach of making a clear distinction between criminals trafficking in drugs and persons with drug-related health problems. The law distinguishes between these two categories using several criteria, with the quantity of the drugs (above or below the threshold, as defined by the Ministry of Health) as the most relevant.
If a person has committed a crime of possessing drugs, the sentence will be up to six months of prison or a fine, if the quantity is not considered as large. In addition, a range of alternatives to punishment is in place, including mandatory suspension of proceedings in certain defined cases of possession, and acquisition of small amounts of drugs for personal use. Therapy instead of imprisonment may also be offered to drug addicts who have committed a more serious crime and are willing to undergo treatment. However, if aggravating circumstances apply, such as involvement of minors or commercial intent, the penalty will be up to three years’ imprisonment.
For trafficking of large quantities (more than 15 times the threshold quantity), the maximum penalties were raised in 2008 and now range from five years (possession), to 1–10 years (import or production) to 10 and 20 years or even life imprisonment, depending on certain circumstances (i.e. commercial purposes, membership of a gang, previous convictions and amount of drugs involved).
National drug strategy
Austria currently has no national (federal) drug strategy or action plan, although the development of a strategy is in progress. The goals and principles of the Austrian drug policy can be found by reading its legislative texts. The main objective of policy is a society as free from addiction as possible, with a central principle being to define drug dependence as a disease and consequently draw a distinction between drug dependence and trafficking. These elements can also be found in the drug and addiction strategies or concepts of the nine Austrian provinces which have been developed between 1993 (Tyrol) and 2003 (Upper Austria).
Coordination mechanism in the field of drugs
The Federal Drugs ‘Coordination structure’ under the Ministry of Health is responsible for the operational coordination of federal drug policies, the preparation of ministerial decisions in the field, and the representation of Austria at European and international level. The coordination structure has three permanent members from the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of the Interior and the Ministry of Justice. Representatives from other ministries are invited on an ad hoc basis.
At the provincial level, drug coordinators and drug representatives, nominated by each province, ensure coordination of actions. The tasks of drug coordinators differ by province, but in most cases they are responsible for the planning and practical implementation of drug policy measures. Drug representatives primarily perform advisory functions. Inter-regional coordination of the provincial drug policies is performed by the Provincial Conference of Drug Coordinators, which draws up joint positions and statements.
The Federal Drug Forum (Bundesdrogenforum) includes the drug coordinators of the provinces, representatives of the federal ministries, the local government federation, the NFP and some experts and scientists. It advises the federal drug coordination.
Drug-related research
In Austria, there exists a broad range of approaches with regard to drug-related research, both at national and at provincial level. The established objectives of research cover clinical studies in the field of substitution substances and neurology, as well as studies on consumption patterns and the social consequences of drug use, surveys, evaluation studies and projects relating to routine monitoring. Drug-specific research is funded at national level by ministries and foundations promoting research, indirectly from the budget of universities, and also from the budgets of the provinces and within the framework of EU programmes. The results of research are disseminated in scientific journals, research reports and via dedicated websites.