DRUG ABUSE TRENDS IN EUROPE AND IN SERBIA

Abstract

Widespread recognition is that drugs, together with organized crime, jeopardize peace, security, and development of the world. Despite increased attention to drug demand reduction in recent years, drug use continues to take a heavy toll. Today, the European drug markets continue to change and evolve rapidly; both the variety and the quantity of new psychoactive substances on Europe’s market are still increasing. In 2014, over a hundred new psychoactive substances were detected, mainly from the chemical groups of synthetic cannabinoids, piperazines, cathinones, pyrovalerones etc. Risk assessments were conducted on six new drugs. However, the „classic“ drugs are still widely used in Europe and according to EMCDDA 5.7 % of European adults aging 15−64 used cannabis in 2014. This drug is also accounted for 80 % of seizures and for over 60 % of all reported drug law offences in Europe due to its use or possession. Rather stable situation is with cocain, amphetamines and ecstazy and even opioids, with heroin as the most common opioid on the European drug market. In the same year, 1.3 million problem opioid users was registered and furthermore opioids were found in 66 % of fatal drug overdoses. Drug abuse trend is similar in Serbia: all surveys have shown prevalence of marijuana with the tendency of more balanced results between urban and rural vicinities, and high percentage of young users. Estimated number of injecting drug users in Serbia is about 25 000, and according to data from the general mortality register heroin is the main cause of death, alone or in combination with alcohol, bensodiazepines or other substances.

 

This work was partly financially supported by the Ministry of Science and Technological Development (Grant No. III46009. 

Keywords

• DRUG ABUSE TRENDS IN EUROPE AND IN SERBIA

Kaynakça

1. Vesna Matović
2. Department of Toxicology “Akademik Danilo Soldatović” Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Belgrade