Country overview: Hungary
- 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 | Hungary | EU (27 countries) | Source | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 2008 | 10 045 401 | 497 455 033 | Eurostat | |
| Population by age classes | 15–24 | 2008 | 12.7 % | 12.6 % 1 | Eurostat |
| 25–49 | 35.7 % | 36.3 % 1 | |||
| 50–64 | 20.4 % | 18.4 % 1 | |||
| GDP per capita in PPS (Purchasing Power Standards) 2 | 2007 | 62.6 | 100 | Eurostat | |
| Total expenditure on social protection (% of GDP) 3 | 2006 | 22.3 % | 26.9 % p | Eurostat | |
| Unemployment rate 4 | 2008 | 7.9 % | 7 % | Eurostat | |
| Unemployment rate of population agends under 25 years | 2008 | 20.3 % | 15.5 % | Eurostat | |
| Prison population rate (per 100 000 of national population) 5 | 2006 | 155 | Council of Europe, SPACE 2006.1 | ||
| At risk of poverty rate 6 | 2006 | 16 % | 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
The last general population survey on drug use was conducted in Hungary in 2007. Results of the 2007 general population survey reveal that lifetime prevalence for cannabis was 8.5 %, 2.4 % for ecstasy, 1.8 % for amphetamines and below 1 % for other illicit substances. In 2003, lifetime prevalence for cannabis was 9.8 %, 3.1 % for ecstasy, 2.5 % for amphetamines and below 2 % for other substances, except for sedatives and/or tranquillisers (22.2 %).
Available data for younger adults (18–34 years old) showed that 19.1 % reported lifetime experience with cannabis and 5.1 % reported to have used ecstasy and 4 % amphetamines at least once in their life. Lifetime prevalence for this age group was lower for all other illicit substances. Last year prevalence of cannabis use was reported by 5.7 % of the sample and last month prevalence by 2.7 %.
Nationwide data on drug use among students, aged 15–16 years, are based on the ESPAD surveys conducted regularly since 1995. The latest ESPAD results, in 2007, showed that 13 % had ever tried marijuana or hashish (16 % in 2003). In 2007, inhalants lifetime prevalence was reported by 8 % of the students. Lifetime prevalence of ecstasy was reported by 5 %, amphetamines use was reported by 4 % of the sample, 3 % reported LSD use, 2 % reported cocaine use,1 % heroin use. Results indicated 10 % for the last year prevalence of cannabis use (11 % in 2003), 5 % for the last month prevalence of cannabis (6 % in 2003). In addition, the reported lifetime prevalence of cannabis use among males was 16 % and 11 % among females.
Prevention
Detailed information on school-based drug prevention programmes, the predominant prevention setting in Hungary is available on www.ndi-szip.hu. Programmes can be searched based on various criteria. Recently, a network of school social workers has been set up in city of ‘Pécs’, the targets being students, the families of students, and everyone in contact with the school and school-aged children in general. Aims are individual case management and counselling, also redirecting students and parents to other specialised services; and social work with parents and families. The strategy is under evaluation.
As regards selective prevention, activities are targeted at recreational settings, ethnic minorities and vulnerable youth. As regards ethnic minorities, joint peer counselling training programmes for Roma and non-Roma youths are carried out. In 2005, a new service targeted at youths in shopping malls was launched in Budapest and Pécs. This office provides information and different programmes in the form of structured or spontaneous group discussions, or individual consultations. Group discussions mostly involve questions of self-knowledge and issues which teenagers are mostly preoccupied with, such as relationships, love, sexuality and drug use. Besides providing a low-threshold service, one of the most important tasks of this service is to act as a filter and direct youths to the right places.
Problem drug use
In Hungary, the first estimate for the prevalence of hidden problem drug use was conducted in 2003. In 2005, the rate for problem drug use was 3.48 per 1 000 inhabitants aged 15–64, corresponding to a number of 24 204 problem drug users (in a range between 19 333 and 29 075). The number of injecting drug users in Hungary was estimated to be 3 941 (with CI: 2 069–5 813) with a central rate of 0.56 for 1 000 inhabitants aged 15–64. Based on several studies and data sources, Hungarian experts assume that the population size of problem opiate users in Budapest was between 2 000 and 2 500 in 2005.
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
In 2007, the data collection system for treatment demand was provided by 100 treatment centres. A total of 4 142 clients entered treatment, out of which 2 733 were first-time treatment clients.
In 2007, cannabis was the primary substance of abuse among all clients in treatment, with a ratio of 68.2 %, followed by 10.5 % for opioids and 10.5 % for amphetamines. Alternatively, among first-time treatment clients cannabis was reported as the primary substance of abuse at 77.9 %, followed by 10.2 % for amphetamines and 3.5 % for opioids. In Hungary, drug legislation offers a treatment programme (see ELDD) as an alternative to imprisonment for drug users stopped by police.
In 2007, 52 % of all clients entering treatment were less than 25 years old. A higher percentage in age distribution was reported among clients entering treatment for the first time, with 59 % under the age of 25 years. As regards gender distribution among all clients entering treatment, in 2007, the majority were male at 86 %, compared to 14 % for females. A similar gender distribution was recorded among first-time treatment clients: 86 % were male and 14 % were female.
Drug-related infectious diseases
There are different sources of information on drug-related infectious diseases in Hungary: the National Registry of Infected Patients run by the Department for Epidemiology of the National Centre for Epidemiology and the special HIV/AIDS and hepatitis surveillance database; and research focused on prevalence of infectious diseases among injecting drug users (IDUs).
According to the National Centre for Epidemiology, 22 (29 in 2006) acute cases of hepatitis C (HCV) were registered in 2007 for the whole country. Five of the patients became infected through injecting drug use. For hepatitis B (HBV), 81 (83 in 2006) acute cases were registered in 2007. Two of the patients became infected through injecting drug use.
In 2007, 119 newly diagnosed HIV-positive persons were reported in the general population which means one and a half times more HIV positive cases than in the previous year (2006: 81). The incidence rate was 11.9 cases per million inhabitants. Three cases of HIV infections were discovered among the IDU risk group. On the basis of national research carried out in 2007 among 567 IDUs, no HIV positive person was found, however, 141 IDUs (25.7 %) were HCV (antibodies) positive and two IDUs (0.4 %) HBV (surface antigens) positive.
Drug-related deaths
The number of reported deaths due to illicit drug use has more or less been stable for 2007. 25 overdose death cases were reported in 2007, compared to 25 in 2006 and 28 in 2005. The majority of overdoses related to illicit drugs were due to opiates, mainly heroin. As regards the distribution by age and sex, we may say that the majority of cases involved males (92 %) and the mean age was 34.3 years.
Treatment responses
Most of the treatment services are provided by public organisations at regional level. This is followed by non-governmental drug service providers.
Treatment for drug users is offered at various outpatient and inpatient facilities throughout Hungary. Facilities include rehabilitation centres and therapy-providing institutions, as well as psychiatric departments, therapeutic communities and crisis intervention departments. The need for developing outpatient institutions specialising in treatment for drug addicts was identified, and first services were established, in the 1980s. Overall, in 2007 there were 22 specialised outpatient treatment centres operating in 15 counties in Hungary. Inpatient care is offered by psychiatric departments, departments of addiction, crisis intervention departments as well as by NGOs running therapeutic communities. 12 out of the 17 rehabilitation homes operating in the country had a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund (all together for 260 beds) in 2007. Long-term rehabilitation is mainly provided by NGOs. The services they deliver are only partially medical or healthcare-related, and are dominated by social and welfare programmes such as work therapy and social reintegration.
In 1994, the first methadone maintenance treatment programme was launched in Hungary, and this is currently available in nine institutions in six towns nationwide. Buprenorphine/naloxone combination has been introduced in 2007 and counted 33 clients in 2007.
The total number of clients in opiate substitution treatment in 2007 was 807.
Harm reduction responses
A harm reduction approach has been present in Hungary for many years. However, only in recent years has it also received support at the professional and drug policy level. The ‘National Strategy to Combat the Drug Problem’ includes an obligation to integrate a harm reduction approach and harm reduction programmes. In practice however, the coverage of such programmes is limited. A number of low-threshold services provide counselling, referral to long-term treatment, social support and legal assistance. Needles and syringes are available across the country through nine fixed needle and syringe exchange programmes, three mobile units (two in Budapest, one in an other city) five vending machines (one in Budapest), and nine street outreach programmes (three in Budapest and six in other cities). A total of 14 organisations are involved in needle and syringe exchange programmes in Hungary. In 2007, a total of 213 774 syringes were given out (including distribution through vending machines) with a return rate of 49.3 %.
Drug markets and drug-related offences
Hungary is a transit country for heroin trafficked across in the Middle East region and transported to Western Europe via the Balkan route. It has been discovered in the last two years that criminal groups operating via the Balkan route, mainly involved in heroin smuggling, also take part in the smuggling, sale and production of synthetic drugs.
Data on seizures are provided by the Hungarian police and the Hungarian customs. On the basis of the number of seizures and the quantities seized it can be stated that herbal cannabis is still the most widely used drug, and the quantity seized increased continuously in the recent years with 347 kg of seized herbal cannabis in 2007. Regarding the number of seizures it is followed by amphetamines with 36 kg, then heroin with 80 kg, ecstasy with 131 632 tablets and cocaine with 15 kg in 2007. Similarly to the previous year, the quantity of ecstasy tablets seized shows a decreasing tendency.
Furthermore, an obviously increasing tendency can be observed in respect of cocaine seizures — especially on the basis of the frequency of occurrence of active substances detected in/on seized materials and objects — as a result of which in 2007 cocaine was a drug occurring at the same frequency as heroin and ecstasy.
As compared to the prices reported in 2006 the following changes can be observed in 2007: the average price of cannabis resin, herbal cannabis, amphetamines and LSD increased whereas the price of heroin and cocaine by gram decreased.
Regarding drug-related offences, as compared to 2006 (6 734 cases), in 2007 the number of revealed criminal offences concerning the misuse of narcotic drugs (4 667 cases) continued to decrease at a significant rate (by 30.7 %).
Among the criminal proceedings concluded in 2007, the number of offenders committing misuse of narcotic drugs was 3 881, representing a decrease by 32.2 % as compared to the data registered in 2006 (5 725 persons).
National drug laws
The drug-control sections of the Hungarian Criminal Code (HCC) were considerably amended in 2003. This amendment was based on the principle that both demand and supply must be reduced, and that there is a need to differentiate approaches towards drug consumers, where prevention, treatment and criminal law must all be taken into account. The HCC was reorganised into sections covering possession, trafficking, minors, addicts, exemptions from punishment, and drug precursors. The amendment introduced more detailed provisions (lower maximum sentences if the offender is an addict, detailed and differentiated regulations on drug-related crimes if persons under 18 years are involved), and again made the treatment option available both for consumers and addicts. It also removed ‘consumption’ as a specific offence — although in an indirect way consumption remains punishable, as possessing and acquiring drugs remains an offence.
National drug strategy
Hungary’s first ever national strategy on drugs covers the period 2000–09. It was complemented by a national action plan which was implemented in 2004 and which was replaced by another one in 2007, Government Regulation 1094/2007 (XII. 5.) on governmental tasks relating to the realisation of the objectives of the National Strategy to Combat the Drug Problem. The National Strategy focuses on illicit drugs, is comprehensive and covers the following pillars: community cooperation; prevention; social work/treatment/ rehabilitation; supply reduction; international cooperation; and monitoring. Specific short-, medium- and long-term objectives and achievements are set for these pillars. The action plan included 19 actions to be implemented in 12 different fields and gives details on activities, deadlines and responsibilities for each action.
Coordination mechanism in the field of drugs
The Coordination Committee on Drug Affairs (CCDA) advises the government and reports to the government on a yearly basis. The Minister of Social and Labour affairs and the Minister of Health chair the committee, which includes representatives of all concerned ministries and national institutions and, since 2007, of four NGOs.
The National Institute for Drug Prevention coordinates the activities of the KEFs (see below) and ensures harmonisation between the national strategy and the local strategies.
Coordination Forums on Drug Affairs (KEFs) coordinate activities at the local level. These are committees of 8–10 members (representatives of NGOs, health/law enforcement state services, local governments, churches) who collect information, determine the most important risk groups, and define the targets of community-based interventions, as well as possibilities for treatment. KEFs must ensure that information concerning local services is available, and there are 89 of them operating at the local, county and regional level.
Drug-related research
The coordinating body for drug coordination in Hungary, the Ministry of Social Affairs and Labour, also coordinates drug-related research through an open tendering mechanism. Hungary’s National Strategy dedicates a specific chapter on the importance of monitoring, and all pillars list the research topics needed for situation assessment and intervention evaluation. Epidemiological research has long been a tradition in Hungary, although research into the effectiveness of interventions is rarely found. The national focal point, which also conducts and initiates research, collects all research reports available in Hungary and disseminates their results via its website and newsletter. Scientific journals and a new electronic database on research, which will be available soon, are examples of other dissemination channels in the country. Recent drug-related studies mentioned in the 2008 Hungarian National report mainly focused on aspects related to prevalence of drug use.