A recent survey by the European Union Drugs Agency has revealed that less than 3% of drug users across Europe received treatment to manage or quit drugs last year. The comprehensive study, which included over 61,000 respondents from 24 EU countries and Norway, highlights concerning trends in drug consumption patterns.
Cannabis was identified as the most commonly used substance, with 59% of participants reporting use in the past year. This was followed by MDMA/ecstasy (30%) and cocaine (29%), while ketamine use was reported by 14% of respondents.
The survey also found that polysubstance use is common, particularly with cocaine, where only 4% of users reported using it alone. Treatment access remains critically low across all substances, with cannabis having the highest treatment rate at just 2.6%.
According to The Journal, motivations for drug use varied widely – over 75% of MDMA, cocaine, and ketamine users cited seeking a “high” or using drugs for fun, while more than 60% of cannabis and heroin users reported using drugs to relieve stress or relax.
Brian Galvin from the Irish Health Research Board called the findings “invaluable for policymakers” to develop more effective drug policies.