Filenews 22 March 2023
Larnaca and Limassol are the cities with the highest methamphetamine use in Cyprus, according to a pan-European Wastewater Analysis Survey on drug use in more than 100 cities. Also, Limassol shows an increase in cocaine use, compared to the previous year.
An announcement by the Cyprus Addictions Authority states that the results for Cyprus result from the cooperation between the Authority and the Nireas International Water Research Centre of the University of Cyprus.
The results were announced on Wednesday by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
This study is based on the methodology of wastewater epidemiology, which is based on the fact that both chemicals used or consumed by the inhabitants of a community (e.g. pharmaceutical compounds, drugs, pesticides, personal hygiene products), as well as viruses/pathogens circulating in the community, end up in the common network of urban wastewater and their treatment plant that serves the area.
As Dr. Despo Fatta-Kassinou, Professor at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and the Nireas International Water Research Centre of the University of Cyprus, "since 2012 we have been participating in the EMCDDA's European SCORE network, providing drug consumption data for Nicosia and Limassol, applying this methodology".
The Cyprus Addictions Authority (AAEK) fully funds the research program for the monitoring of psychoactive substances in the island's wastewater, and in collaboration with the Nireas team, studies their consumption in the largest urban centers of Cyprus (Nicosia, Limassol, Larnaca, Paphos, Ayia Napa-Paralimni).
The study is conducted based on the common analytical protocol of the SCORE network, providing amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA (ecstasy), cocaine and ketamine use data to the network, while also monitoring the consumption of heroin, mephedrone and oxycodone over the last two years[1].
Today, the European EMCDDA is publishing the results of the survey conducted in spring 2022 by the ever-growing SCORE network, with the participation this year of 104 cities from 21 countries (20 European countries and Turkey), including Nicosia, Limassol, Paphos, Larnaca and the Ayia Napa-Paralimni area, with very interesting findings.
Increasing trend in cocaine use in Europe - At relatively low levels in Cyprus
As the results of the survey show, cocaine use in Europe has been on the rise over the last year.
The increase is observed in the majority of cities participating in the study, while the highest cocaine consumption values were observed in areas of western and southern Europe (Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal).
Cocaine use in Cyprus was found to be at relatively low levels, compared to the European average, with the highest consumption occurring in Limassol, for another year, where an increase in its use was also observed, compared to the previous year.
Methamphetamine use - increase in all cities across Europe
Even more important is the increase observed in the use of methamphetamine (in 2/3 of the cities that participated in the survey), which is now at significant levels in Belgium, Spain, Germany, but also in Turkey, as well as in Cyprus, where in all cities there was an increase in its use, compared to last year. In fact, Cypriot cities are quite high in the ranking, with the largest consumption occurring in Larnaca and Limassol.
On the other hand, the use of MDMA and amphetamine was found to be very low compared to European data in all cities of Cyprus.
In general, the highest consumption of MDMA was observed in Belgium, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal, while the highest levels of amphetamine use were observed in northern and eastern European countries (Sweden, Germany, the Netherlands, Finland).
Hemp and ketamine
A mixed picture with fluctuations compared to the previous year is presented by the use of cannabis in Europe, with the countries of southern and eastern Europe showing a higher consumption of cannabis. In Cyprus, its use is also significant, close to the European average.
Finally, for the first time, ketamine was included in the considered compounds, as there is an increased availability of the substance in Europe. In Cyprus, the ketamine levels measured were very low, while the highest consumption was found in Denmark, Italy, Spain and Portugal.
The President of the Cyprus Addictions Authority, Dr. Christos Mina, according to the announcement, commented on the findings of the survey, stressing its importance, saying that such studies allow timely measures to address the problem of illegal drug use both in Cyprus and in Europe.
CNA
