Cannabis remains the most commonly abused illicit drug in Europe

In 2004, cannabis was consumed by 28.8 million people on the European continent, which represents 5.3% of the total population, according to the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB or International Narcotics Control Board, INCB) in its report for 2004, presented in Vienna.
Cannabis: benefits or risks?
This estimate cannabis illicit drug most commonly used in Europe, "as also in all other regions," said the UN agency in charge of the fight against drug trafficking in this document.

For ten years, the abuse of cannabis shows a rising trend in almost all European countries, reports the INCB. According to the UN agency, who regrets that the public debate on the use of cannabis is stronger "by the alleged potential benefits of cannabis by the risks associated with its use," the evolution of cannabis "seems linked to efforts that some are to accredit the idea that it is safe. "

The Board is very pleased, in this report, the fundamental change in the policy of the Netherlands on cannabis. Indeed, the Dutch government recognized health problems and social issues related to the consumption of cannabis and announced its intention to reduce the number of coffee shops.

A worrying trend in Eastern Europe
INCB reports that cocaine abuse, an increase since 1998, however, tends to stabilize.

On other drugs (heroin, amphetamine, ecstasy), if we observe overall stagnation or decline in abuse situations in most Western European countries, the trend seems to be contrary to the progress in European countries Eastern.

An even more damaging in terms of public health and the use of contaminated injecting equipment by drug users contributes to the progression of the HIV / AIDS situation deplores the INCB.

Thus, the Baltic states and member states of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), where 80% to 90% of new HIV cases are due to drug injection have the highest growth rate of HIV infection among injection drug users.

This increase "alarming HIV / AIDS and other infectious diseases [also seen in Asia] is linked to a shocking ignorance of basic facts about these diseases and their mode of transmission," said Hamid Ghodse, president of the INCB.

According to him, it is necessary to prevent drug abuse not only because it "is in itself a dangerous and harmful practice" but also because it "is likely to cause even more devastating by the way which contributes to the spread of HIV / AIDS and other serious infectious diseases. "