The development of cannabis and cocaine use in Europe, implications for mental health

Kurzzusammenfassung in leicht verständlicher Sprache

Cannabis is the most widely used illicit drug, with increasing concerns linked to high?potency products, daily use, and the emergence of (semi-)synthetic cannabinoids. It accounts for a growing proportion of treatment demand and is associated with mental health harms, especially with early onset and frequent use. Cocaine is characterised by unprecedented availability, high purity, and declining prices. Record?high seizures reflect large?scale trafficking through European ports and are accompanied by rising health harms. Crack cocaine use appears to be expanding among marginalised populations in some countries. These trends highlight increasing public health, social, and security challenges, underscoring the need for strengthened prevention, harm?reduction, and treatment responses tailored to a rapidly changing drug market in Europe.

Abstract

Hintergrund und Fragestellung
Cocaine and cannabis are central drivers of Europe’s illicit drug landscape and pose growing challenges for mental health and public health. Cannabis remains the most widely used illicit drug, while cocaine has become increasingly available, potent, and harmful. This paper synthesizes current European evidence to describe trends in use and associated harms, and to highlight implications for prevention, harm reduction, and treatment responses.

Methoden
This contribution is a narrative review drawing on European surveillance data, including European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) reports, and recent peer reviewed literature on cannabis and cocaine use, treatment demand, and health outcomes. Evidence was synthesized to describe prevalence, market characteristics, mental health harms, and broader public health impacts across Europe.

Ergebnisse
An estimated 24 million European adults report past year cannabis use. Increasing concerns relate to high potency products, daily use, early onset, and the emergence of synthetic and semi synthetic cannabinoids. Cannabis accounts for a growing proportion of drug treatment demand, particularly among first time entrants, and is consistently associated with adverse mental health outcomes, including psychotic symptoms and cannabis use disorders. Cocaine is now the second most used illicit drug in Europe and is characterized by unprecedented availability, high purity, and declining prices. Record high seizures reflect large scale trafficking through European ports and coincide with rising harms, including acute toxicity, dependence, psychiatric presentations, and increasing drug related deaths. Crack cocaine use appears to be expanding among marginalized populations in several countries, contributing to severe health and social harms.

Diskussion und Schlussfolgerung
Current trends in cannabis and cocaine use in Europe signal escalating mental health, public health, and social challenges. Strengthened, evidence based responses are required, combining prevention, harm reduction, and accessible treatment services that are responsive to a rapidly changing drug market. Coordinated public health and policy action is essential to mitigate future harm

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Ich bzw. die Koautorinnen und Koautoren erklären, dass während der letzten 3 Jahre keine wirtschaftlichen Vorteile oder persönlichen Verbindungen bestanden, die die Arbeit zum eingereichten Abstract beeinflusst haben könnten.