Trends of the use and abuse of illicit drugs in Europe

8.

• Amphetamine and methamphetamine are both manufactured in Europe for the domestic market, although some is also manufactured for export, principally to the Middle East and the Far East, respectively. Some methamphetamine production is centred on Lithuania while production based on ephedrine and pseudoephedrine is centred on the Czech Republic, although some is also occurring in Slovakia and now Germany. More than half of the total quantity of amphetamine seized was accounted for by Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. After a period of relative stability, there was an increase in the quantity of amphetamine seized in 2013, and there are indications that methamphetamine use is diffusing to other countries and new populations.
• Ecstasy is the common name of the synthetic substance MDMA , which is chemically related to amphetamines, but differs to some extent in its effects. Ecstasy tablets have historically been the main MDMA product on the market, although they may often contain a range of MDMA-like substances and unrelated chemicals.

Problems associated with use of this drug include acute hyperthermia, increased heart rate and multi-organ failure, and long-term use has been linked with liver and heart problems. Deaths associated with this drug remain relatively rare. Production of MDMA in Europe appears to be concentrated around the Netherlands and Belgium. About 4.8 million MDMA tablets were seized in the European Union in 2013. A recent upturn is also evident in indexed trends of MDMA-related offences. More...

• Synthetic cathinones such as mephedrone, pentedrone and MDPV were first introduced as new psychoactive substances, not controlled under drug laws, and have become a fixture on the illicit drug market in some European countries. Cathinones are used in similar ways to, and often interchangeably with, other stimulants such as amphetamine and MDMA.
• LSD , ketamine, GHB (gamma-hydroxybutyrate) and hallucinogenic mushrooms are among the other psychoactive substances with hallucinogenic, anaesthetic and depressant properties that are used in Europe. There is growing recognition of the health problems related to these substances, for example, damage to the bladder associated with long-term ketamine use. Loss of consciousness, withdrawal syndrome and dependence are risks linked to use of GHB.