Brussels, 28/05/2013 (Agence Europe) - Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs described the annual report on drugs published on Tuesday 28 May by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) as encouraging on certain aspects but worrying with regard to others.
The report notes some progress made, particularly in the level of treatments given to users and in the fall in consumption rates of heroin and cocaine. Nonetheless, it underlines new and emerging threats that defy current policy and practice models. In its annual taking of stock, the agency highlights a number of positive developments in line with more established drugs, “such as fewer new users of heroin, less injecting and declining use of cannabis and cocaine in some countries”. But these are offset by concerns “over synthetic stimulants and new psychoactive substances, offered both on the illicit, and so-called 'legal highs', market”.
The EMCDDA explains that the current drug market “is more fluid and dynamic and less structured around plant-based substances shipped over long distances to consumer markets in Europe”. Here “globalisation and information technology are important drivers of change, with the internet creating new connections in drug use and supply”.
Malmström, said: “I am encouraged by the fact that, thanks to robust drug policies and record levels of treatment, use of heroin, cocaine and cannabis appears to be waning in some countries and drug-related HIV continues to decline”. The Swedish Commissioner noted, however, that “I am also concerned that a quarter of European adults - or 85 million people - have used an illicit drug and that, by historical standards, drug use in Europe remains high”.
The EMCDDA report points out that in 2012, 73 new synthetic drugs were identified or sold on the internet as opposed to 49 in 2011. 19 substances were from less known or more obscure chemical group'. Also of note were the 14 new substituted phenethylamines (the chemical group that includes amphetamine and ecstasy). Although heroin consumption continues to fall in the majority of European countries, there have been new HIV infection outbreaks in Greece and Romania. Even though cannabis consumption has remained more or less stable, the agency is also concerned about possible health repercussions involving regular users and the report notes an increase of around a third of the number of users who have begun a treatment for the first time for problems linked to the use of cannabis over recent years. This number increased from around 45,000 in 2006 to 60,000 in 2011. (SP/transl.fl)