Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2001. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Reuters NewMedia - Tuesday November 20, 2001
Martin Roberts
The Lisbon-based European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) said in its annual report for 2001 that use of amphetamines, ecstasy, cocaine and heroin was far less common than that of cannabis. However, heroin accounted for a high level of health, legal and social problems.
The EMCDDA said the proportion of adults who had used cannabis ranged from 10% in Finland to 20% to 25% in Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Between 1% and 9% of EU adults have used cannabis in the past 12 months, the report added.
Cannabis was also the most common drug used by EU schoolchildren. The number of 15- to 16-year-olds having tried it at some time ranged from 8% in Sweden and Portugal to 35% in France and the UK.
The injecting of drugs and long-term use seemed to be highest in Italy, Luxembourg, Portugal and the UK, at between five and eight users per 1,000 adults, the report said. These types of drug use were least common in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands, at two to three per 1,000.
EMCDDA said many local factors determined such use, and the impact of either tough or liberal drug laws was not clear.
"However, comprehensive national drug policies are of high importance in reducing the adverse consequences of problem drug use, such as HIV infection, hepatitis B and C and deaths from overdose," the report said.
The level of HIV infection appeared to have stabilized in most EU countries since the mid-1990s. But rates varied widely between countries, and preliminary data showed infection might be increasing among some intravenous drug users.
New users of cannabis and cocaine seeking treatment were on the rise in most EU countries, while those new to heroin were decreasing.
Many EU trends found an echo in central and eastern European countries, such as an increasing percentage of people, especially schoolchildren, who had used illegal drugs at some time.
The EMCDDA said candidate countries for EU membership had adequate drug polices. However, "overall capacities to implement the adopted measures effectively, as well as the resources allocated, remain limited."
011120
RE011132
Copyright © 2001 - Reuters, Ltd. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Contact Reuters.
AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.
Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2001. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.
AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.
Copyright ©1980, 2001. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .