Ammon News - The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) Tuesday reported that 5,800 drug-related deaths were recorded within the EU in 2021.

The centre stated that most of the 5,800 drug-related deaths were caused by polydrug toxicity, which usually includes combinations of illegal opioids, illegal drugs and alcohol.

The centre added that the rapid return to drug supply and use after the COVID-19 pandemic is among the issues highlighted today in the report entitled: "European Drug Report 2022: Trends and Developments."

The centre explained that drug availability remains at high levels across the EU and in some, such as the use of cocaine, has exceeded pre-pandemic levels, while strong and dangerous substances are still surfacing.

The centre noted that cannabis products are becoming increasingly diversified, while the production of synthetic drugs has increased in Europe.


It highlighted those drug problems in Europe could be driven by developments at the international level, including recent developments in Afghanistan and Ukraine and their potential effects on the drug industry.


In turn, the European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, said in the report: "The continuing escalation of industrial drug production within the European Union shows us the strong motivation by organised crime groups to take advantage of the illegal drug trade, which puts public health and security at risk."


The report warns that partnerships between European and international criminal networks have led to a record increase in the availability of cocaine and the large-scale manufacture of methamphetamine within Europe, which is of particular concern.