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European Responses Guide

What are the most effective treatment options for cannabis problems? How to respond to new trends in cocaine use? How to help prevent the non-medical use of medicines? Health and social responses to drug problems: a European guide 2021 examines some of the key public health challenges in the drugs field today and offers timely and practical advice to practitioners and policymakers for designing, targeting and implementing effective responses.

Explore our new resources

collage of six photos 1 - two hands holding cigar 2 - neddle and spoon 3 plastic bags with drugs 4 - cup with drink and mirror with line of drug 5 - hand holding a plastic bag with white powder 6 - hands holding blisters with pills

Spotlight

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Opioid-related deaths: health and social responses

Two hands exchanging a needle (photo credit: istock)

Drug-related infectious diseases: health and social responses

Lisbon Addictions is back: Registration and call for abstracts are open!

New psychoactive substances: health and social responses

Close-up of a male hand holding a transparent sachet with white powder

Stimulants: health and social responses

FAQ: drug overdose deaths in Europe

close up of arms of two people sharing a cannabis joint (photo credit Louis Hansel, Unsplash)

Cannabis: health and social responses

computer simulation of a Hep C virus

Toolkit to increase access to hepatitis C testing and care in drug services

Graphic shows a series of pie charts for cannabis, cocaine, MDMA and amphetamines, showing drug prevalance rates in the EU. Cannabis is the most used drug with 7.7% of adults having used it in the last year. Last year use for cocaine is 1.2%, MDMA is 0.9%

European Drug Report 2021

Latest news

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European Commission proposes stronger mandate for EU drugs agency

12.01.2022

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In memoriam — Manina Terzidou

22.12.2021

emcdda season's greetings with trees and stars in turquoise and light yellow

Season’s greetings and warm wishes for a safe and healthy 2022

20.12.2021

Emergency vehicle driving fast on a blurred street

New EMCDDA miniguide on responding to opioid-related deaths highlights approaches and evidence that can help save lives

17.12.2021

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Board elects Austrian member Franz Pietsch as Chair and Luxembourgish member Xavier Poos as Vice-Chair

16.12.2021

map of countries in blue in grey background with bosnia and herzegovina, serbia, kosovo, north macedonia, albania and montenegro

Western Balkans: IPA7 project advisory committee takes stock of progress and looks ahead to 2022

07.12.2021

Publication cover

EMCDDA initial report on the new psychoactive substance 3-MMC

Publication cover

EMCDDA initial report on the new psychoactive substance 3-CMC

Thumbnail of responses miniguide on opioid-related deaths

Opioid-related deaths: responses miniguide

cover of miniguide drug-related infectious diseases: health and social responses

Infectious diseases: responses miniguide

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NPS: responses miniguide

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Stimulants: responses miniguide

Polydrug use: responses miniguide

All publications

cover of the european drug report 2021

European Drug Report 2021: Trends and Developments

Cover for theof health and social responses

European Responses Guide

Wastewater POD's cover

Wastewater analysis and drugs — a European study

EU Drug Markets Report 2019

An analysis of drugs in used syringes from sentinel European cities

Medical use of cannabis and cannabinoids

All publications

Events

European Drugs Winter School (EDWS)

14 Feb 2022 to 25 Feb 2022

Online

Training

International Women’s Day

08 Mar 2022

International day

65th EMCDDA Management Board meeting

21 Jun 2022

Lisbon, Portugal

EMCDDA statutory body meeting

European Drugs Summer School (EDSS) 2022

27 Jun 2022 to 08 Jul 2022

Lisbon, Portugal

Training

Videos

photo of people passing in a hospital corridor with text emcdda webinar wednesday, 8 december 2021, 13.00-14.00 cet brussels time, drug related deaths in europe, current challenges and implications for responses

EMCDDA webinar: Drug-related deaths in Europe, current challenges and implications for responses

Video screenshot of EU4MD video

EMCDDA beyond EU borders: spotlight on countries neighbouring the EU (EU4MD)

Video thumbnail of the video on IPA

EMCDDA beyond EU borders: spotlight on pre-accession partners (IPA)

Screenshot from the webinar on cannabis control approaches

EMCDDA webinar: Cannabis control approaches across Europe

Screenshot of the EMCDDA webinar on health and social responses to cannabis showing chair person Jane Mounteney and a slide presenting the European Responses Guide

EMCDDA Webinar: Health and social responses to cannabis problems in Europe — time for a paradigm shift?

Screenshot of a presentation from the EMCDDA webinar on prison and drugs

EMCDDA webinar: Prison and drugs in Europe: current and future challenges

Data visualisations

Location of drug consumption facilities in Europe, November 2019. The map shows a concentration of facilities in Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, Switzerland and parts of Spain

Infographic. Location and number of drug consumption facilities throughout Europe

Countries in the west of Europe are more likely to provide take-home naloxone than in the east of Europe

Infographic. Availability of take-home naloxone programmes in Europe

While last year cocaine use among young people is low, in many countries in Europe it is close to 3%.

Infographic: cocaine use in the last year in Europe – young adults (15-34)

Some key cannabis prevalance use data for young adults in Europe. Less than 20% have used cannabis in the last year. There are wide variations between countries, from 2% to over 20%. More men report using than women. Frequency of use varies widely.

Cannabis use in the last year in Europe – young adults (15-34)

infographic showing characteristics of cannabis users entering treatment. 84% are male. Approximately half are daily users.Trends since 2009 so an apprroximately 20% increase.

Cannabis users entering treatment in the EU (updated June 2021)

Infographic shows price and purity for cannabis resin and herbal in EU. Price for resin is on average between 7 and 12 euros and for herbal betwen 8 and 13. Resin is about twice as potent. Price is fairly stable since 2009 but potency has increased a lot.

Cannabis price and potency in the European Union (updated June 2021)

Infographic shows different charts illustrating the characteristics of cocaine users enterng treatment. They are mainly male and use cocaine more than once a week. Most sniff cocaine. Between 2009 and 2019, numbers entering treatment in EU are similar.

Cocaine users entering treatment in the EU (updated June 2021)

Graphic showing seizures of cannabis resin and herb in the EU in 2019. While numbers for quantities of seizures are similar (approximately 350000 in the EU), the quantity in weight of cannabis resin seized is two to three times greater than for herb.

Cannabis seizures in the EU (updated June 2021)

Graphic showing number and quantity of seizures of cocaine in the EU in 2021. Approximately 100000 seizures in number and a little over 200 tonnes in weight.

Cocaine seizures in the EU (updated June 2021)

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