UK has one of Europe's worst drugs problems - UN
Key points
- Britain ranks in the top three for heroin and ecstasy abuse in Europe and has the biggest amphetamine problem in the region, a United Nations drugs watchdog said on Wednesday.
- "Cocaine abuse appears to be increasing in the United Kingdom and, to a lesser extent, in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland," the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) wrote in its 2004 annual report.
- It estimates that more than 200 tonnes of cocaine are smuggled into Europe every year, entering the region mainly via Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.
- Cannabis is increasingly being grown locally, particularly in member states of the European Union, the INCB said in the report, adding that its use had grown in almost all countries over the past decade.
Britain ranks in the top three for heroin and ecstasy abuse in Europe and has the biggest amphetamine problem in the region, a United Nations drugs watchdog said on Wednesday.
"Cocaine abuse appears to be increasing in the United Kingdom and, to a lesser extent, in Denmark, Germany, the Netherlands, Spain and Switzerland," the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) wrote in its 2004 annual report.
It estimates that more than 200 tonnes of cocaine are smuggled into Europe every year, entering the region mainly via Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and the United Kingdom.
Cannabis is increasingly being grown locally, particularly in member states of the European Union, the INCB said in the report, adding that its use had grown in almost all countries over the past decade.
"The above mentioned upward trend in cannabis use seems to be related to the efforts by some to promote the notion that cannabis use is not harmful."
In Western Europe, Luxembourg is the country with the highest level of opiate abuse, followed by Portugal and the United Kingdom. Britain heads the table for the most heroin seized.
For ecstasy abuse, Britain ranks third behind Ireland and the Czech Republic while it is number for amphetamines one ahead of Ireland, Denmark, and Spain.
Written and revised by
David Cohen, M.D.
Our doctors write and review articles for accuracy and keep them up to date.
health.am provides general information, not medical advice. Always consult a qualified health professional about your own health.
Explore health topics
More in this topic
Addiction →NewsStrong Drugs without the Addiction
Two University of Adelaide pharmacologists working with one the world’s leading neuroscientists have helped pave the way for the development of new pain-killing drugs that are not addictive. Professor of Clinical…
20 November 2007
NewsIt Is Easy to Purchase Prescription Drugs and Controlled Substances Through Spam Messages
It Is Easy to Purchase Prescription Drugs and Controlled Substances Through Spam Messages on the Internet A new study in PLoS Medicine has found that a third of all spam messages advertise health products such as drugs…
19 September 2007
NewsDrugs help smokers quit, even if not first time
Smokers who use pills to try to kick the habit should keep trying, even if the drugs do not work at first, a U.S. researcher advised on Saturday. It can take several weeks for many people to fully wean themselves off…
