New EU Drug Report Highlights Emerging Risks from Novel Substances

The European drug market is undergoing significant changes, leading to increased health and safety risks, according to a report released by the European Union Drug Agency (EUDA) based in Lisbon. The 2025 drug report presents data from 29 countries, indicating a rise in the consumption and trade of potent substances, including synthetic drugs such as cathinones and nitazenes, as well as increasingly potent cannabis.

Synthetic Substances on the Rise

There has been a dramatic increase in the number of synthetic cathinones, which are chemically related stimulants derived from the khat plant. In 2023, authorities seized 37 tons of these substances in Europe, a significant jump from 4.5 tons in 2021. Poland alone has identified 53 production facilities, as reported by the EUDA. The growing use of these substances is reflected in the rising number of treatment requests.

Concerns Over Synthetic Opioids and Cannabis

A particularly concerning trend is the emergence of synthetic opioids. Since 2009, 88 new variants of these highly potent substances have been detected in Europe, including many nitazenes associated with fatal overdoses, particularly in the Baltic states. The cannabis market is also becoming more complex, with hashish now containing twice the amount of the psychoactive compound THC compared to a decade ago. Additionally, semi-synthetic cannabinoids like HHC are increasingly consumed without users' knowledge, often found in products such as sweets, as evidenced by a case involving gummy bears in Hungary in 2024.

Cocaine remains the most widely used stimulant, with 4.6 million people in Europe reported to have used it in the past year. In 2023, authorities seized 419 tons of cocaine, marking a new record. The rising consumption rates are reflected in increasing emergency room visits, which may soon overwhelm healthcare systems.

Young Lives at Risk in Austria

In Austria, three amphetamine laboratories and one methamphetamine lab were dismantled in 2023. Across the EU, 250 production sites for methamphetamine were uncovered, with 189 located in the Czech Republic alone. Austria was among seven countries where more than 10% of new HIV infections with a known transmission route were linked to injecting drug use in 2023. The rate in Austria was 14%, compared to the EU average of 5.6%. Furthermore, the proportion of drug-related deaths among individuals under 25 was notably high in Austria, accounting for 25% of the total 256 drug fatalities. Many of these cases involved multiple substances, with heroin or morphine being present in 132 of the deaths.

EU's Commitment to Combat Drug Trafficking

The illegal drug trade fosters an environment of intimidation and corruption, undermining the fabric of communities, businesses, and institutions. The fierce competition among criminal networks has not only led to an increase in gang-related violence and homicides but has also resulted in the recruitment of minors into criminal activities. The EU Commissioner for Home Affairs and Migration has announced intensified efforts to dismantle these criminal organizations through the ProtectEU initiative, which aims to enhance internal security across the continent.