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 | 2010 | 8 375 290 | 501 105 661 p | Eurostat | |
| Population by age classes | 15–24 | 2010 | 12.2 % | 12.1 % p | Eurostat |
| 25–49 | 37.0 % | 35.8 % p | |||
| 50–64 | 18.4 % | 19.1 % p | |||
| GDP per capita in PPS (Purchasing Power Standards) 1 | 2009 | 124 | 100 | Eurostat | |
| Total expenditure on social protection (% of GDP) 2 | 2008 | 28.2 % | 26.4 % p | Eurostat | |
| Unemployment rate 3 | 2010 | 4.4 % | 9.6 % | Eurostat | |
| Unemployment rate of population aged under 25 years | 2010 | 8.8 % | 20.9 % | Eurostat | |
| Prison population rate (per 100 000 of national population) 4 | 2009 | 100.8 | Council of Europe, SPACE I-2009 | ||
| At risk of poverty rate 5 | 2009 | 12.0 % | 16.3 % | SILC | |
p Eurostat provisional value.
1 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.
2 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.
3 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.
4 Situation of penal institutions on 1 September, 2009.
5 Share of persons aged 0+ with an equivalent disposable income below the at-risk-of-poverty threshold, which is set at 60 % of the national median equivalised disposable income (after social transfers).
Drug use among the general population and young people
2008 was the second time that a representative survey on prevalence and patterns of use of legal and illicit narcotic substances was carried out on behalf of the Federal Ministry of Health (BMG). In the context of the survey on use, a total of 4 196 people over 14 were interviewed with regard to their experience of use of legal as well as illicit psychoactive substances. The prevalence rates found in the 2008 survey were lower for almost all drugs compared to the survey of 2004, reasons for this change are being discussed. The prevalence rates covering the past year (12-month prevalence) have gone down considerably. They are above one percent only in the case of cannabis (2.8 %; 2004: 7.5 %) and under one percent regarding all other substances.
In the year 2007, the European school survey project on alcohol and other drugs (ESPAD) survey among 15–16 years old pupils, showed an estimated lifetime prevalence of 18 % for cannabis, followed by 14 % for inhalants and other volatile substances. Amphetamines and cocaine were used less frequently. 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.
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, plays also a role in encouraging to get help from various services. 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, as well as activities targeting young people taking part in programmes of the Public Employment System were also introduced.
Indicated prevention has been hardly implemented so far, has mostly remained at the pilot level and is primarily targeting adolescents of at-risk alcohol use.
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 2009 indicates a prevalence of 4.6 PDUs per 1 000 inhabitants aged 15–64 (95 % CI: 4.4–4.7, 25 771 users ranging from 24 867 to 26 687). The decline observed between 2005 and 2007 did not continue; the prevalence slightly increases again in recent years but is below 2005 levels.
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 2009, 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 2009, a total of 5 849 clients entered in treatment out of which 2 076 clients were first-time treatment clients. Data regarding all clients entering treatment suggests that 68.0 % reported that opioids as their primary drug, followed by 19.6 % for cannabis and 6.9 % for cocaine. Among first-time treatment clients, a slightly different distribution was identified, with 49.3 % for opioids followed by 37.3 % for cannabis and 7.4 % for cocaine.
Furthermore, in 2009, 30 % of all clients entering treatment were less than 25 years. A higher percentage in age distribution was reported among new treatment clients, with 47 % 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 77 % for male and 23 % for female.
Drug-related infectious diseases
The prevalence of infectious diseases among IDUs is estimated on the basis of a few small samples from treatment facilities, low-threshold centres and drug-related death in Austria. In 2009, the national prevalence rates of HIV among IDUs (who had injected drugs at least once in their lives) ranged from 1.9–11.8 %, with higher rates found among drug-related death than among the clients of drug treatment centres.
The available data for hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) prevalence rates indicate a high level of infection. In 2009, 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 9.1-23.3 % for HBV and 33.3-69.9 % for HCV. Compared to the previous year, the ranges for HBV and HCV rates slightly increased. 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 2009 the downward trend in the number of DRD observed in 2007 and 2008 did not continue and the number of direct drug-related deaths went up to 187 in 2009 (163 in 2003, 185 in 2004, 191 in 2005, 197 in 2006, 175 in 2007, 169 in 2008 ). For 2009, 92 % of the cases were based on known toxicological examinations; and in 93 % of these cases, opiates were registered. In 2008, the number of cases on which no autopsy has been performed tripled (up to 32 cases) in comparison with previous years.
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 2009, the share of prescription rates for slow-release morphine continued to rise while the prescription rates for methadone and buprenorphine declined insignificantly. In 2009/2010, the feasibility of intravenous substitution has been tested in Vienna. 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. In 2009, the Narcotic Drugs Decree was amended to regulate changes of the conditions for take-home substitution medications and also establish a requirement to obtain a second opinion for diagnosis and treatment options for patients younger than 20. Furthermore, the Oral Substitution Further Training Decree adopted in 2005 and amended in 2009 stipulates that general practitioners and public health officers need to attend training in order to be qualified and authorised to supervise prescription and to deliver substitution treatment. The qualification licence is valid for three years. Besides office-based MDs and specialised outpatient centres, substitution treatment for problem drug use in Austria is also provided by public health authorities, hospitals and prisons.
In 2008, a total of 13 460 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 4.0 million in 2009. Exchange of needles and syringes is available at low-threshold services, outpatient drug services, through syringe vending machines and pharmacies. In recent years the number of syringes distributed through mobile services has continuously declined, which was mainly a result of the closure of the mobile syringe exchange and sales services in Vienna in 2007. 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
In 2009, according to the Austrian Federal Ministry of the Interior, 22 729 drug-related offences were registered. Cannabis was involved in 55.6 % of all drug law offences, followed by 12.5 % for cocaine and 9.7 % for heroin.
In 2009, the number of seizures for cannabis resin, herbal cannabis, heroin, cocaine and amphetamines increased when compared to 2008. This was mirrored also by an increase in the seized quantities of above-mentioned drugs, except for cocaine, when compared to 2008. In 2009, a substantial decrease reported for seized LSD over the period 2007–08 did not continue. A total of 1 581 units of LSD were seized in 2009 compared to a total of 225 units of LSD seized in 2008 and 1 058 units in 2007. In 2009, the number of seizures and a total amount of seized ecstasy substantially decreased when compared to the previous years. A total of 192 kg of cannabis resin, 776 kg of herbal cannabis, 190 kg of heroin, 53 kg of cocaine, 64 kg of amphetamine were seized and a total of 5 848 ecstasy tablets were seized in 2009.
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 1 205 in 2007.
So-called ‘research chemicals’ have been playing an increasingly important role in the the party and clubbing scenes in the past few years, due to their relatively easy availability through the Internet and unregulated status. In 2010 however, an amendment to the Narcotic Drugs Decree classified 4-methylmethcathionone (mephedrone) and levo – (R(-)) methadone (Polamidon) as narcotic substances to limit availability of these substances.
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 Minister of Health.
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. Recent and ongoing studies include school and general population surveys, care for older drug users, evaluation of and guidelines for drug treatment and municipal drug services. 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.
