What Europeans think about drugs and drug policy: results from the first EUDA Drug Survey

Join us on 12 November as we present the results of the first EUDA Drug Survey, exploring public attitudes towards drugs and drug policy across Europe. Using the European Commission's Flash Eurobarometer methodology, the survey captures the views of the general population on drug-related problems and risks, drug availability and how society should respond. 

A total of 95 883 people (15 years and over) were surveyed across 35 European countries. These included the 27 EU Member States, Norway and Türkiye, as well as selected candidate countries (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, Moldova, North Macedonia and Serbia) and potential candidate, Kosovo*. 

The online event will present the initial survey findings, including perceptions of drug use and trafficking in communities, public health and safety concerns, the perceived availability of different drugs, and attitudes towards regulation, enforcement, prevention, treatment and support. It will also highlight some of the differences emerging across countries and age groups. One of the survey outputs is an interactive dashboard which allows users to explore country-level results and delve further into the survey data. 

Following the presentation, EUDA experts will discuss the key implications and takeaways for public health and security. The event will conclude with questions from participants and closing remarks. 

Further survey outputs will follow in 2027, including country fact sheets, expanded data explorers, infographics and additional thematic insights. 

Chairperson: Senad Handanagić, Head of sector, Drugs use, harms and addictive behaviours, Substance use, harms and responses unit, EUDA. 

Video message: European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner (tbc)

Opening remarks: Dr Lorraine Nolan, Executive Director, EUDA. 

Presentation of results: João Pedro Matias, Principal scientific analyst — Drug use and the drug problem, EUDA. 

Discussion and key takeaways: Jane Mounteney, Head of unit, Substance use, harms and responses, and Pedro Assares Rodrigues, Head of unit, Policy, crime and markets, EUDA. 

Format: Opening remarks, presentation of results, discussion and key takeaways, audience Q&A and closing remarks. 

Duration: 90 minutes.

Date: 12 November 2026, 10.30–12.00 Lisbon time (WET); 11.30–13:00 CET.

Platform: Zoom