Everything, everywhere and for everyone. This is how the situation of the medicines in Europeaccording to a report European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction which every year warns of the increase in the consumption and production of these substances.

“The classic illegal drugs are now widely available and new substances with a high content of active ingredients continue to appear,” analyzes Alexis Goosdeeldirector of the agency, quoted in the statement.

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According to the analysis, the supply of psychoactive substances continues to grow, often with a high purity.

But The drug whose consumption is growing the most is cocaine. This drug is still booming in Europe. According to the authorities cocaine arrives in large quantities in commercial containers at portswith 303 tons seized in 2021.

Cocaine is the best-known illegal stimulant in Europe, used by 3.7 million European adults (15-64) last year. However, it is far behind hempthe first drug to be used by more than 22 million adults in Europe by 2022.

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Preliminary data show that 162 tonnes of cocaine were found in the ports of Antwerp (Belgium) and Rotterdam (Netherlands) alone last year.

In one year, the port of Rotterdam has intercepted more than 70,000 kilos of cocaine, which has a value of 5 billion euros on the street. EFE/Imane Rachidi
Photo: Imane Rachidi

According to the same authorities only a small proportion of the amount of cocaine imported into Europe is seized by security forces.

Similarly, local production of cocaine is increasing. The report reveals the rise of cocaine factories in the European Union (EU), with 34 labs decommissioned by 2021 (compared to 23 in 2020).