EUROPE - Cannabis and cocaine are the most commonly used drugs in the EU, but several others pose a threat to public health.
Nearly one in three Europeans have sampled illegal drugs in their lifetime, but not every country is alike when it comes to their drug habits or their health impact. Regular drug use is associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular diseases, mental health issues, accidents, and infectious diseases such as HIV when it comes to injectable drugs. Across the European Union, 15 percent of young adults have used cannabis – the plant in marijuana – in 2024, while 2.5 percent used cocaine, according to a recent report from the European Commission and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).
Among all adults, cannabis use is highest in the Czech Republic, Italy, France, and Spain, and lowest in Malta, Turkey, and Hungary, EU data shows. Meanwhile, cocaine use is highest in the Netherlands, Spain, and Ireland, and lowest in Turkey, Portugal, Poland, and Hungary.
