Synthetic drug production continues to increase in Europe South America, West Asia and North Africa remain important source areas for illicit drugs entering Europe, while China and India are important source countries for new psychoactive substances. Drug precursors and related chemicals are also often reported to be sourced from China. Recent changes in Europe’s illicit drug market include innovations in drug production and trafficking methods, the creation of new trafficking routes and partnerships between European and non-European organised crime networks. Europe is also a production region for cannabis and synthetic drugs; cannabis production is generally for European consumption, while synthetic drugs are also manufactured for non-EU markets. More than 350 laboratories were detected and dismantled in 2020 and diversification is becoming more evident in the production processes used, with more medium- and large-scale production facilities detected. More cocaine laboratories were also dismantled in 2020 than in 2019, also including some large-scale sites. Additionally, an increasing number of cathinone production sites were dismantled and more chemical precursors for cathinone production were seized in 2020. Illegal drug production remains a diverse law enforcement, regulatory and environmental challenge with complex health and social consequences.

 

 

KEY DRUG SUPPLY TRENDS

• Around 1 million seizures were reported in 2020 in the European Union, with cannabis products being the most often seized.

• The numbers of seizures of cannabis resin (−72 %), cocaine (−7 %), amphetamine (−7 %) and heroin (−52 %) were lower in 2020 than in 2010.

• The largest increases, expressed in percentage terms, observed in the number of seizures between 2010 and 2020 were for MDMA (+129 %) and methamphetamine (+107 %), while the number of herbal cannabis seizures moderately increased (+19 %).

• Between 2010 and 2020, the largest increases, expressed in percentage terms, in quantities seized have been for methamphetamine (+477 %), amphetamine (+391 %), herbal cannabis (+278 %), cocaine (+266 %) and MDMA (+200 %).

• The smallest increase in seizures between 2010 and 2020 was for cannabis resin (+16 %), while seizures of heroin (−2 %) decreased over the period.

 

KEY DRUG LAW OFFENCES TRENDS

• In 2020, an estimated 1.5 million drug law offences were reported in the European Union, an increase of 15 % since 2010.

• More than half of these offences (64 % or 1 million) relate to use or possession for personal use.

• Of the estimated 1.5 million drug law offences, the drug mentioned in the offence is reported in just under 1 million offences, of which 740 000 were for possession or use, 171 000 were for supply-related offences and 11 000 were for other types of offence.

• Drug supply offences remain at higher levels than in 2010 for all drugs except heroin.

 

 

 

 

KEY EU PRODUCTION AND PRECURSORS DATA FOR 2020

• Cannabis: EU Member States reported seizures of 2.8 million cannabis plants in 2020 (2.8 million in 2019).

• Heroin: Four heroin production sites were dismantled in the European Union (2 in Belgium and 2 in Czechia). Four seizures of the heroin precursor chemical acetic anhydride amounting to 920 litres (26 000 litres in 2019) were reported by 4 EU Member States (Belgium, Estonia, Netherlands, Austria).

• Cocaine: Spain reported dismantling 3 cocaine laboratories, while the Netherlands reported 20 (all secondary extraction laboratories, some of which were large-scale sites), an increase on the 15 sites detected in 2019. Belgium reported that cocaine processing was also taking place at the 2 dismantled heroin production sites.

• Amphetamine and methamphetamine: In 2020, 78 amphetamine laboratories were reported as dismantled (38 in 2019) by Belgium (13), Germany (12), the Netherlands (44), Poland (4) and Sweden (5). In addition, 5 500 litres of BMK (14 500 litres in 2019) and 31 tonnes of MAPA (31 tonnes in 2019) — precursor chemicals for amphetamine and methamphetamine — were seized in the European Union in 2020.

• MDMA: The Netherlands reported dismantling 24 MDMA laboratories (28 in 2019), Belgium 3, and Germany and Poland 1 each. Seizures of MDMA precursors decreased to 2 tonnes in 2020 compared with 7 tonnes in 2019. Cathinones: In 2020, 15 synthetic cathinone production sites were dismantled (5 in 2019) in the Netherlands (2) and Poland (13), including some largescale sites.

 

Cannabis:

• COVID-19 travel restrictions appeared to have some effect on the trafficking of both herbal cannabis from the Western Balkans and resin from Morocco.

• For example, reports of increased large herbal seizures originating in Spain suggest that this country may be becoming a more important supplier for the EU market

• In 2020, EU Member States reported 86 000 seizures of cannabis resin amounting to 584 tonnes (464 tonnes in 2019) and 240 000 seizures of herbal cannabis amounting to 155 tonnes (130 tonnes in 2019). Additionally, Turkey reported 8 300 seizures of cannabis resin amounting to 37.5 tonnes and 46 900 seizures of herbal cannabis amounting to 56.3 tonnes.

• Approximately 642 000 cannabis use or possession offences were reported in 2020 (625 000 in 2019), alongside 93 000 supply offences (102 000 in 2019).

• Last year cannabis use among EU inhabitants aged 15–34 is estimated at 15.5 %. Among 15- to 24-year-olds an estimated 19.1 % (9.0 million) used cannabis in the last year and 10.4 % (4.9 million) in the last month.

•  herbal cannabis was used by 95 % of respondents who used cannabis in the last 12 months, compared with 32 % for resin, 25 % for edibles and 17 % for extracts

•  In 2020, available data from 25 countries show that around 80 000 people entered specialised drug treatment in Europe for problems related to cannabis use, about 43 000 for the first time. Cannabis was the main problem drug most frequently cited by new treatment clients, accounting for 45 % of all first-time treatment entrants in Europe.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cocaine:

• indicators suggest that the availability and use of cocaine in Europe remains high by historical standards

• In 2020, a record high of 213 tonnes of cocaine was seized

•  Reports of increased crack cocaine use in a small but growing number of European countries also suggest the spread of cocaine use among people with high-risk drug use patterns

• In 2020, EU Member States reported 64 000 seizures of cocaine amounting to 213 tonnes (202 tonnes in 2019). Belgium (70 tonnes), the Netherlands (49 tonnes) and Spain (37 tonnes) accounted for almost 75 % of the total quantity seized.

• In 2020, the 91 000 use or possession offences involving cocaine continued an upward trend from the previous 4 years.

• In the European Union, surveys indicate that nearly 2.2 million 15- to 34-year-olds (2.2 % of this age group) used cocaine in the last year.

• n 2020, cocaine was the second most common problem drug for first-time drug treatment entrants, cited by 14 000 clients or 15 % of all first-time entrants.

 

AMPHETAMINE AND METHAMPHETAMINE

• the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted Europe’s nightlife economy, and this appears to have led to reduced demand for stimulants during 2020

• higher rates of methamphetamine use are still only observed in a small number of countries in central and eastern Europe

• dismantled during 2020 and a record 21.2 tonnes of this drug being seized

• In 2020, EU Member States reported 25 000 seizures of amphetamine, amounting to a record 21.2 tonnes (15.4 tonnes in 2019). Turkey seized 0.7 tonnes (2.8 tonnes in 2019), including 2.9 million tablets (11 million in 2019), reported as ‘captagon’. The average purity of amphetamine at retail level has increased markedly over the past decade, while the price has remained relatively stable.

• EU Member States reported 6 000 seizures of methamphetamine amounting to 2.2 tonnes in 2020 (3.5 tonnes in 2019), with Slovakia seizing 1.5 tonnes of Mexican origin. In 2020, Turkey reported 34 000 seizures of methamphetamine, amounting to 4.1 tonnes (1 tonne in 2019). The average purity of methamphetamine has increased over the past decade, mostly since 2019.

• More than 8 000 clients entering specialised drug treatment in Europe in 2020 reported amphetamine as their primary drug, of whom about 3 700 were first-time clients.

• Users of amphetamine or methamphetamine accounted for at least 15 % of first-time treatment entrants in 2020 in Bulgaria, Czechia, Estonia, Germany, Latvia, Poland, Slovakia, Finland and Turkey

• Amphetamine was the fourth most common substance reported by Euro-DEN Plus hospitals in 2020, present in 13 % of the presentations.

 

MDMA:

• The continued availability of highstrength MDMA tablets puts users at risk of health harms. However, there were signs that levels of MDMA use did experience a decline in 2020, likely associated with severe disruptions of Europe’s nightlife economy, which continued into 2021.

• In 2020, EU countries reported 13 000 seizures of MDMA (25 000 in 2019). Seizures of MDMA powder in the European Union amounted to 1 tonne (2.2 tonnes in 2019) and seizures of MDMA tablets reached 4.7 million (3.9 million in 2019). Turkey seized a record 11.1 million MDMA tablets (8.7 million in 2019).

• MDMA was the sixth most common drug reported by Euro-DEN Plus hospitals in 2020, present in 6 % of acute drug toxicity presentations. Presentations involving MDMA decreased to 376 in 2020 (661 in 2019).

 

HEROIN AND OTHER OPIOIDS | Heroin remains Europe’s most commonly used opioid, despite trafficking shifts

• Indicators of heroin use and reductions in the quantity of heroin seized by Turkey and Bulgaria in 2020 together with large seizures reported in other transit countries are suggestive that COVID-19 transport restrictions may have disrupted the trafficking of this drug along the Balkan route into the European Union. This could also help explain the shortages of heroin in 2020 reported by some countries.

• Countries that reported a shortage, however, also noted the use of replacement substances, including diverted methadone, stimulants and benzodiazepines.

• While heroin remains Europe’s most commonly used illicit opioid and the drug responsible for most drug-induced deaths, there has been growing concern about the role synthetic opioids play in Europe’s drug problem

• EU Member States reported 18 000 heroin seizures amounting to 5.1 tonnes in 2020 (7.9 tonnes in 2019). France (1.1 tonnes), Belgium (0.7 tonnes), Italy (0.5 tonnes) and Poland (0.5 tonnes) reported large quantities. Turkey seized over 13.4 tonnes of heroin in 2020 (20 tonnes in 2019).

• Overall, the available indicators suggest heroin use remained stable in 2020 compared with previous years. It is estimated that 0.34 % of the EU population, around 1 million people, used opioids in 2020.

 

Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug among the general population in Cyprus, with approximately 1 in 10 adults aged 15-64 years reporting cannabis use at least once during their lifetime. Cannabis use remains concentrated among young adults aged 15-34 years.

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• A strong link between gender and illicit drug use is reported, with prevalence rates for all drugs being higher among males. The mean age at cannabis experimentation is 18-20 years.

• Use of new psychoactive substances is also concentrated among 15- to 34-year-olds, with synthetic cannabinoids being the most frequent substances reported.

• Nicosia and Limassol are among the European cities with the highest levels of methamphetamine detected in wastewater,

• but levels of amphetamine and MDMA remain below those reported by most other cities participating in the study

 

High-risk drug use and trends Studies reporting estimates of high-risk drug use can help to identify the extent of the more entrenched drug use problems, while data on first-time entrants to specialised drug treatment services, when considered alongside other indicators, can inform an understanding of the nature of and trends in high-risk drug use.

• In 2017, it was estimated that there were around 1 200 high-risk opioid users in Cyprus. The number of high-risk methamphetamine users was estimated at 175 in the same year.

• Data from specialised treatment centres indicate an overall decline since 2007 in primary heroin-using clients entering treatment for the first time. In recent years, an increasing number of clients have sought treatment for use of opioids other than heroin (in particular oxycodone) or for use of methamphetamine. Although injecting remains common among opioid users entering treatment, a downward trend in this practice has been observed in recent years. Half of those entering treatment for primary opioid use in Cyprus inject the substance. In 2017, most treatment clients were male; however, the proportion of females in treatment varied by primary drug and by treatment setting.

 

Drug-related infectious diseases In Cyprus

• data on notifications of infectious diseases are provided by the Department of Infectious Diseases and the National Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) Programme of the Ministry of Health. Other data on drug-related infectious diseases (DRID) are primarily obtained by monitoring DRID prevalence among patients in drug treatment. The number of people who inject drugs (PWID) with valid test results for DRID remains low. In 2017, only a quarter of those entering drug treatment benefited from hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) testing. No on-site testing is offered in outpatient programmes

 

Drug-induced deaths and mortality Drug-induced deaths are deaths that can be attributed directly to the use of illicit drugs (i.e. poisonings and overdoses)

• In 2017, the Special Registry reported an increase in the number of drug-induced deaths in Cyprus. Eleven of the 16 deaths involved opioids — in the vast majority of cases in combination with psychoactive medicines. Four of the cases involved oxycodone (compared with three cases in 2016). In Cyprus, the drug-induced mortality rate among adults (aged 15-64 years) was 26 deaths per million in 2017, more than double the rate for the year 2016 and similar to the most recent European average of 22 deaths per million.