Drug boom in Europe: record numbers and increasing number of victims!

Drug boom in Europe: record numbers and increasing number of victims!

The drug boom in Europe accepts alarming proportions. According to a current report from Ots Drug consumption in Europe has been increasing continuously for years, which leads to an annual turnover of the drug mafia of around 31 billion euros. Particularly worrying is the increase in the drug dead, which is potentially fatal drug cocktails by consumption. Kocaine experiences a comeback and is now the most frequently consumed drug on the continent after cannabis.

In the report "Drug boom. Is Europe in the frenzy?" The ORF correspondent magazine "worldwide" shows the drug from producers to consumers. The journalist Isabella Purkart visits a farmer in Colombia who illegally grows coca plants and produces coconut paste. The area for coca cultivation in Colombia is 230,000 hectares, which corresponds to almost the size of Vorarlberg. The farmers who work in the Koka cultivation only receive a small part of the money, while the drug cartels collect most of the profits.

Drug cover spaces and the fight against the mafia

Current research show that Antwerp is the most important transshipment point for cocaine in Europe. Benedict Feichtner from Ots reports that the authorities have difficulty keeping up with the confiscation of cocaine. In addition, drug dealers try to bring back confiscated goods because the business remains highly lucrative. In France, there are violent clashes between hostile drug gangs, which lead to violence and firearms. Amine Kessaci, who lost his brother in this gang war, is political for changes in his city.

Around 110 tons of cocaine were secured in the port of Antwerp in 2022, while about 52 tons were confiscated in Rotterdam. Deutschlandfunk reports that customs can only ensure about 10 % of the smuggled cocaine in Europe. The increasing number of international drug cartels not only harbors a growing challenge for the authorities, but also increasing violence in drug trafficking, especially in Antwerp and the Netherlands.

Health consequences and social challenges

The health and social effects of the drug problem are far -reaching. According to the European drug report of Euda Illegal drugs have a significant impact on society that also affect areas such as homelessness and youth crime. The availability of illegal substances remains high, often with high purity, which leads to health risks. The consumption of stabil monoxide (laughing gas) among young people is increasing, and new synthetic drugs have additional challenges.

The analysis shows that the role of opioids remains central, while the availability of fentanyl and other synthetic opioids harbors potential health risks. Despite the police success, the street price for cocaine remains constant, which indicates a stable supplement. The need for integrated measures in areas such as living space, health care and criminal law system is urgent to counter the challenges in the fight against the drug problem.