This publication provides an update on drug-related deaths in Europe, presenting and analysing the latest data and trends in drug-induced deaths and overall mortality among high-risk drug users in the European Union and beyond.

It draws on contributions from specialists representing more than 40 countries at the latest meeting of the EMCDDA expert network on drug-related deaths in November 2018 as well as information provided by European countries in the annual reporting exercise.

Contents

• Introduction and objective of this report
• Overdose deaths in Europe: Comparisons and causes
• Overal...

EMCDDA has developed a range of downloadable infographics to illustrate findings from the European Drug Report 2019.

The aim of the report is to provide reliable and detailed evidence of the drug situation in Europes so that practice and new policies can be informed by sound research.

By following trends, conclusions can be drawn and predictions made about how the drug situation might unfold in the future.

Abstract

Addiction is a complex and challenging condition with many contributing factors. Although addictive behaviors appear to be individual choices, behavior alterations cannot be addressed successfully without considering characteristics of the physical and social environments in which individuals live, work, and play. Exposure to chronic psychosocial stressors and the physiological response of individuals to their external environment activates the brain’s neuroendocrine hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis, with profound conditioning effects on behavior. This brief synopsis describes the...