Drug use can lead to dependence with harmful health effects. In 2015, some 3.5 million adult Europeans used cocaine, 1.8 million used amphetamines and 1.3 million were opiate users. Cannabis users reached 23.5 million.
 
Abuse of prescription drugs, such as tranquilisers, analgesics and stimulants, is also a cause of growing concern.
 
If you are experiencing substance abuse problems, you may be interested in learning that the EU has a drug strategy and action plan. Their aim is to reduce the health risks and injuries caused by drugs to health and society and to ensure that the treatment offered to drug users will help them recover and reintegrate into society.
 
The EU has also set up a European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) to provide information at European level and an advisory body to the CSF.
 
In 2017, the EU adopted legislation that includes new designer drugs in the definition of narcotics and set up an information exchange and early warning system.
 
Health damage caused by drugs is one of the priorities of the current EU Health Programme.
 
The many EU-funded programmes to help people with substance abuse include an online drug survey, a network to boost research into the illicit drug problem, a website and a mobile application aimed at young users of new psychoactive substances, with general information, self-assessment and intervention programmes, and an initiative to improve the training of family members in the addiction medicine.
 
Over the past two decades, the EU has developed a comprehensive European approach to tackle drugs use and trafficking, working closely with international partners, including the United Nations Commission on Narcotic Drugs.
 
The main priorities of this approach were set out in the EU Drugs Strategy for 2013-2020 and implemented through two consecutive Action Plans on drugs for 2013-2016 and 2017-2020.
 
As a result of these efforts, the EU Agency on drugs, the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), was recognised as a hub of excellence in Europe and internationally.
 
The Agency closely monitors the drug situation in Europe The 2019 European Drug Report, which showed an increase in cocaine availability with seizures at a record high level, was presented earlier this month.