European Drug Report 2014: Trends and developments released

The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) released its report European Drug Report 2014: Trends and developments on 27 May 2014.

The report provides a top level overview of the long-term trends and developments in Europe, while also focusing in on emerging drug-related problems.

Highlights of the Report

•    Overall around 6100 overdose deaths were reported in Europe in 2012. This compares to 6500 reported in 2011 and 7100 cases in 2009.
•    Nearly 39 Britons are dying from drug overdose per million population compared to 17 people per million in the rest of Europe.
•    Rates of over 50 deaths per million were reported in five countries, with the highest rates reported in Estonia (191 per million) and Norway (76 per million), followed by Ireland (70 per million), Sweden (63 per million) and Finland (58 per million).

•    Drug use is one of the major causes of mortality among young people in Europe both directly through overdose (drug-induced deaths) and indirectly through drug-related diseases, accidents, violence and suicide.
•    Cocaine remains the most commonly used illicit stimulant drug in Europe.

What does the Report say on India?

The report mentioned that designer drugs are being sourced mostly from India and being produced in clandestine laboratories in Europe. The drugs come in the form of powder legally from India to Europe where they are processed, packaged and sold as legal highs or research chemicals.
 
The emergence of designer drugs has complicated the fight against drug-related problems in Europe. This is because synthetic or naturally occurring substances are not controlled under international law, and often produced with the intention of mimicking the effects of controlled drugs.