Know more about the Problems caused by Drugs
In the World
According to United Nations WDR 2020, drug use increased 30 per cent since 2009, an estimated of 269 million people who use drugs in 2018. Cannabis is the most used illicit substance. However, opioids are the most harmful, accounting for 66 per cent of the 167,000 deaths related to drug abuse.
Addiction treatment access remains in default:
> 6 million people suffer from drug use disorders globally.
> 1 out of 8 people who need drug-related treatment receive it.
> While 1 out of 3 drug users is a woman, only 1 out of 5 people in treatment is a woman.
> More than 80% of the world’s population are deprived of access to controlled drugs for pain relief and other essential medical uses.
In Europe
> Worth of 30 billion €, Cannabis (39%)is the largest retail drug market in Europe, followed by cocaine (31%), heroine (25%) and methanphetamines and MDA (5%).
> Heroin is responsible for a large share of the harms related to drug use in the EU, in particular, large numbers of drug-related deaths (85% = 6.581).
> Problems attributable to synthetic cannabinoids appear to be growing; their relatively low cost, easy availability and high potency are factors in increased use among marginalised groups, including the homeless and prison populations.
In Portugal
At the national level, the SICAD Report 2019, reveals that in terms of substance use in the general population aged 15-74 years, there was an increase. Either on cannabis use – the prevalence of recent use, the most intensive frequencies and addiction. And of harmful consumption or alcohol dependence. Negative developments were more evident in the female group and in certain age groups – 25-44 years in the case of cannabis and above 44 years in the case of alcohol.
On the other hand, there was an increase between 2015 and 2018 regarding:
> recent and current use of cannabis and alcoholic beverages, binge drinking and drunkenness among 18 year olds.
> proportions of new infections by HIV and HCV in users being treated for problems related to the harmful use of alcohol.
> mortality in terms of overdoses, alcohol intoxications and road accidents under the influence of alcohol.