In November 2022, the European Commission published the results of the latest Eurobarometer survey on the impact of drugs on communities in the EU. Between 03 and 12 September 2024, 25 680 Europeans aged 15 and over were surveyed 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 1010 respondents.
This survey assesses the impact of drug use and drug trafficking on communities across the EU. It focuses particularly on how serious the use of illicit drugs and drug trafficking are perceived to be at the local level, the prevalence of related issues, and potential regulatory measures.
39% of respondents think that the use of illicit drugs is a serious problem in their local area: 18% think it is a “very serious” problem and 21% a “somewhat serious” problem.
To what extent to do you think that the use of illicit drugs is a problem in your local area?
The perceived seriousness of the use of illicit drugs in local areas varies greatly by Member State. The total proportion of respondents saying it is a serious problem (“very” or “somewhat serious”) is overall the highest in Portugal (67%). In another seven Member States, this proportion is also higher than 50%: Croatia (59%), Ireland (59%), Malta (57%), Italy (55%), Romania (55%), Luxembourg (53%) and Bulgaria (52%).
More than a third of respondents in five Member States say that the use of illicit drugs is a “very serious” issue in their local area: Bulgaria (34%), Luxembourg (34%), Portugal (36%), Malta (37%) and Austria (40%).
One group of the problems refer to the availability and accessibility of illicit drugs (drugs being highly available and accessible, people smoking cannabis in public spaces, the consumption of hard drugs in public spaces, and children and teenagers taking drugs).
Drugs being highly available and accessible emerges as the most prevalent problem, mentioned by 62% of respondents (who regard the use of illicit drugs as a problem in their local area). Six in ten respondents (60%) identify children and teenagers taking drugs as a problem associated with the use of illicit drugs in their local area; this proportion has decreased by eight percentage points compared to 2021 (Flash Eurobarometer 493).
Drugs being highly available and accessible (% Yes)
Children and teenagers taking drugs (% Yes)
People smoking cannabis in public spaces is cited as a problem associated with the use of illicit drugs by 48% of respondents (+3 pp compared 2021). People taking other drugs (e.g., crack, heroin, cocaine, new psychoactive substances) in public places is seen as a problem by 42% of respondents.
People smoking cannabis in public places (% Yes)
People taking other drugs (e.g., crack, heroin, cocaine, new psychoactive substances) in public places (% Yes)
The two most-mentioned problems related to the use of illicit drugs in local areas are traffic accidents related to drug use or to combined alcohol and drug use (mentioned by 63%, -8 pp compared to 2021) and mental health problems and stigma related to the use of illicit drugs (mentioned by 62%).
Another community problem perceived to be related to the use of illicit drugs, mentioned by half of respondents, is poverty or unemployment (50%, -4 pp compared to 2021).
The remaining problems are each mentioned by just over four in ten respondents: health problems, such as increase in infectious diseases (e.g., HIV, Hepatitis), overdose incidents and drug-related deaths (44%), people who use drugs resorting to violence in your local area (42%) and gender-based violence (41%).
About four in ten respondents (41%) think that the trafficking of drugs is serious problem in their local area: 22% say it is a “very serious” and 19% a “somewhat serious” problem.
To what extent to do you think that the trafficking of drugs is a problem in your local area?
About half of respondents who consider drug trafficking a “very”, “somewhat” or “not too serious” problem, identify children and teenagers being involved in drug trafficking as a problem in their local area. In addition, 32% say the same about drug traffickers using violence and intimidation in their local area.
The share of respondents identifying children and teenagers being involved in drug trafficking as a problem associated with trafficking of drugs in their local area is highest in Bulgaria (78%), followed by Cyprus and Greece (both 70%). In contrast, only about a third of respondents say the same in Italy (32%) and Portugal (34%).
In France, 55% of respondents say that drug traffickers using violence and intimidation in their local area is a problem; in Bulgaria (51%), Cyprus (50%) and Greece (48%), about half of respondents share this view. By comparison, only about one in seven respondents say the same in Slovakia (13%) and Estonia (14%).
Children and teenagers being involved in drug trafficking (% Yes)
Drug traffickers using violence and intimidation in your local area (% Yes)
Overall, about a third of respondents (34%) think that problems caused by drug use and drug trafficking have increased in their local area over the past few years, whereas 11% think that those problems have decreased.
Security and public health issues related to drugs
Over a third (39%) of respondents agree that the availability and use of drugs is a central factor to reducing the overall quality of life in their local area, and 34% agree it has a negative impact on their own health and well-being and that of those close to them. Moreover, around a third (31%) of respondents consider that the availability and use of drugs make them feel unsafe near their home, school or place of work.
The most perceived pressing public health issue related to drug use is mental health issues (48% of respondents), followed by long-term health conditions (e.g. cardiovascular diseases, respiratory issues) (29%) and strain on emergency medical services (28%).
Use of cannabis
About three-quarters (74%) of respondents say they have never used cannabis. The quarter who say they have used cannabis is composed of about one in five (19%) who have used the drug more than a year ago, 3% who have used it in the last 30 days and 3% who have used it in the last 12 months (but not in the last 30 days). These figures are very similar to those found in the previous wave in 2021.
At the Member State level, the proportion of respondents who have ‘ever’ used cannabis is relatively higher in the Netherlands (37%), France (36%), Denmark (34%) and Spain (33%). In contrast, the figure is comparatively low in Romania (5%), followed by Cyprus (12%) and Bulgaria (13%).
Support for the banning and regulation of drugs
A large majority of respondents support the current EU-wide ban on the supply of heroin (91%), MDMA (ecstasy) (87%) and cocaine (87%). 53% of respondents are in favour of the regulation of cannabis for recreational use, however this share has decreased by nine percentage points compared to 2021.
There is also a divergence of views regarding support for banning cannabis for recreational use across the EU. In eight countries (Bulgaria, Estonia, Greece, Cyprus, Latvia, Romania, Finland, Sweden), a majority of respondents think the recreational use of cannabis should be banned. The number of countries where a majority of respondents support a ban on the use of cannabis has doubled as compared to 2021.
Public policies to reduce drug-related issues
Finally, the two most-listed ways for public authorities to effectively reduce problems posed by drug trafficking and drug use are tough measures against drug traffickers (43%) and education, information and prevention interventions (41%). These are followed by dismantling criminal networks involved in drug trafficking (35%) and offering sport, entertainment and cultural activities for young people (32%).
Source: Eurobarometer 2024 FL552
Impact of drugs on communities – 2024 REPORT