In the period May-July 2024, the European Web Survey on Drugs (EWSD 2024) was conducted. A total of 35 countries participated in it – 24 EU members and 11 non-EU countries. The survey questionnaire was presented in 30 languages, according to the official languages of the participating countries. More than 100 partners took part in the initiative, including the Reitox network of national focal points, universities and civil society organisations.
The target group of the study was people aged 18 or over who have used drugs, and its main aim was to improve the understanding of drug use patterns in Europe. Significant interest in the study was registered – 67,071 individuals expressed a desire to participate. The data presented here refer 61732 respondents who lived in one of the 24 EU countries and Norway.
1215 respondents participated in the Bulgarian study, and data for 1188 respondents who lived in Bulgaria was validated.
Drug use and treatment received in the last 12 months
The most commonly used illicit drug over the past 12 months was cannabis, with 59 % of respondents reporting its use. This was followed by MDMA/ecstasy, used by 30 % of respondents, and cocaine, used by 29 % of respondents.
A comparable percentage of respondents listed to use magic mushrooms/truffles (18 %), amphetamines (17 %) and new psychoactive substances (NPS) (16 %) in the last 12 months, followed by Ketamine (14 %) and semi-synthetic cannabinoids (14 %).
Fewer than 3% of the participants indicated seeking treatment to manage or quit using a specific drug in the last 12 months. In particular, the illicit drug for which the highest proportion of participants sought treatment was cannabis (2.6 %), followed by cocaine (1.6 %) and heroin and other opioids (1.4 %).
Polydrug use in the last 12 months
Polydrug use was reported across all illicit drugs. Cocaine powder was the drug most frequently consumed alongside at least one other drug. Only 4 % of participants indicated using it with no other drug in the last use, including tobacco and alcohol. On the other hand, cannabis had the lowest proportion of polydrug consumption pattern among illicit drugs. A third of respondents answered that the last time they used cannabis they did not use any other substances.
Motivation for drug use in the last 12 months
More than 75% of the participants who used MDMA/ectasy, ketamine and/or cocaine powder specified they use the drug to get high or for fun. Over half of the participants of NPS, amphetamine, crack cocaine and/or methamphetamine, also noted that they use these substances for these motivations.
More than 60% of those who used methamphetamine, CBD/low-THC and/or cannabis indicated that they use these substances to reduce stress or to relax.
Additionally, 51 % of those who used amphetamine and 44 % of those who used methamphetamine also disclosed that they use them to stay awake.
Setting for drug use in the last 12 months
Home was the most common setting for the use of most illicit drugs during the previous 12 months. This was particularly relevant for those who used heroin and cannabis (92 %).
On the other hand, the preferred setting for MDMA was at music festivals or parties (79 %), while cocaine powder was most commonly used at bars or clubs (68 %).
Notes
The analysis here covers 24 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden. Norway was also included in the analysis.
While web surveys are not representative of the general population, when carefully conducted and combined with traditional data-collection methods, they can help paint a more detailed, realistic and timely picture of drug use and drug markets in Europe. As such, they are a key ingredient in the EUDA’s responsiveness to an ever-shifting drugs problem.
Source: EUDA, European Web Survey on Drugs 2024
Data for participants from Bulgaria