On February 1, 2022, the European Commission published the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey on the impact of drugs on communities in the EU. Between 30 June and 10 July 2021, 25 713 people were surveyed, Europeans aged 15 and over across 27 EU countries. All interviews were carried out via Computer-Assisted Telephone Interviewing (CATI). In each country, respondents were called both on landlines and mobile phones. In Bulgaria were covered 1041 respondents.
The survey shows that over half (54%) of respondents think that drug use or dealing is a serious problem in their local area (63% of respondents in Bulgaria), with over a third (35%) of them perceiving an increase of drug related problems in their local area over the past few years (34% of respondents in Bulgaria).
Among the biggest concerns of respondents there is the availability of drugs and the consumption of drugs among children and teenagers (both mentioned by 67% of respondents who think drugs are a problem in their local area; respectively 66% and 74% of respondents in Bulgaria). Drug use is also considered to be a cause of:
- youth crime (72% of respondents in EU and 81% of respondents in Bulgaria);
- stealing, theft or burglary (66% of respondents in EU and 77% of respondents in Bulgaria);
- violent crime or murder (58% of respondents in EU and 64% of respondents in Bulgaria);
- corruption (39% of respondents in EU and 43% of respondents in Bulgaria).
The results of the Eurobarometer survey will be taken into account for the indicators selected by the Commission for the EU Drugs Action Plan 2021-2025 that implements the EU Drugs Strategy 2021-2025.
Impact of drugs on communities – REPORT