People who use drugs in Europe are facing new health risks as drug markets evolve rapidly and become more complex. This warning comes from the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) in its European Drug Report 2026: Trends and Developments, released today.
Based on data from 29 countries (EU-27, Norway and Türkiye), the annual review highlights risks to public health posed by the wide availability and use of an increasingly diverse range of substances, often of high potency or purity. New cannabis products continue to appear, while the variety of opioids and stimulants sold is on the rise. Polysubstance use is also common, with people combining drugs in ways that increase risk and complicate responses. Europe’s ability to address these complex challenges will depend on stronger service-provision systems and sustained investment in prevention, treatment, harm reduction and social reintegration.
New psychoactive substances (NPS) are still being detected at a rate of around one a week. In 2025, 50 NPS were reported for the first time in Europe, bringing the total number monitored by the EUDA to 1 050. Among these are potent new synthetic opioids, which pose an increased risk of life‑threatening poisoning.
The key stories are:
- Cannabis: shifting routes, stronger products, new health risks.
- Opioids: new synthetic opioids threaten public health, while heroin market remains resilient.
- Cocaine: rising harms, crack use and shifting trafficking tactics.
- Ketamine: growing health risks, as drug increasingly diverted onto illicit market.
The online report features over 100 graphics, including interactive dashboards, allowing readers to visualise data and trends at European and national level. It also provides open access to source data, making analysis, sharing and re-use easier for readers.
Alongside the report, the 2026 Statistical Bulletin provides national and city-level datasets. For over 30 years, this flagship publication has helped policymakers and practitioners understand Europe’s evolving drug phenomenon.
The entire source data set for the report, including data for tables which appear within the report, may be found here.
Digital format of European Drug Report 2026: Trends and Developments
Europe’s drug situation in 2026 – key developments