Lisbon, 16 June 2023
European Drug Report 2023: Highlights
Greater diversity in drug supply and use is creating new challenges for drug policy and healthcare in Europe. This is among the issues highlighted today by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) as it launches its European Drug Report 2023: Trends and Developments in Brussels. The report delivers the latest overview of the drug situation in Europe, exploring key trends and emerging threats.
Drug availability remains high across all substance types and the scale and complexity of illicit drug production within Europe continue to grow. People who use drugs are now exposed to a wider range of psychoactive substances, often of high potency and purity. As these may be sold in similar-looking powders or pills, consumers may be unaware of what they are taking. The report underlines the need for effective risk communication strategies to alert consumers to the health harms associated with new substances, drug interactions and high-potency products.
The analysis covers a wide range of illicit drugs, from opioids and stimulants to new cannabis products and dissociative drugs (e.g. ketamine). It also provides an update on new psychoactive substances (NPS), which continue to pose a public health challenge in Europe. In 2022, 41 new drugs were reported for the first time through the EU Early Warning System (EWS), bringing the total number of NPS monitored by the EMCDDA to 930.
Source – EMCDDA – Email