ZAGREB, 10 Feb (Hina) - The most commonly used illegal drug after cannabis in Croatia is cocaine, the use of which has increased fivefold since 2011, which also reflects the situation in the EU, where for the sixth consecutive year, record amounts of cocaine have been seized, surpassing even those in the USA.
According to the findings of the research project titled "Substance Abuse in the General Population of Croatia in 2023", the highest prevalence of cocaine use was found in the age groups between 25 and 34 years (4.6%), between 35 and 44 years (3.9%), and between 15 and 24 years (3.6%).
Cocaine is traditionally associated with younger adults, but due to its wider availability and changes in social norms, it is also being used by older adults.
In Croatia, the situation regarding the availability of cocaine could be even more concerning in terms of youth, as the 2019 European survey on smoking, alcohol consumption, and drug use among students shows that Croatia is above the European average in terms of illegal drug use among young people.
Twenty-two percent of students aged 15-16 reported having tried some form of psychoactive drug at least once in their lifetime.
Number of patients treated for cocaine slightly rises
According to data from the Report on People Treated for Substance Abuse in Croatia, the number of patients treated for cocaine as the primary substance of addiction has shown a slight increase, which corresponds to the situation in the EU. The highest number of treated individuals in Croatia in 2023 was in the 30-34 age group (46 people), followed by the 40-44 age group (42 people) and the 35-39 age group (40 people).
On the other hand, the number of individuals treated for cannabinoids as the primary substance of addiction fluctuates, with a decline in cases in 2020 and 2021, but a slightly higher number in 2022.
In 2023, the highest number of treated individuals was in the 15-19 age group (144 people), followed by the 20-24 age group (109 people) and the 25-29 age group (107 people).
Thirteen individuals under the age of 15 were also recorded. As age increases, the number of treated individuals decreases.
Largest seizures of cocaine
In the EU, 323 tonnes of cocaine were seized in 2022, and 303 tonnes in 2021, said Željko Petković, Assistant Director for Combatting Drug Abuse within the HZJZ (Croatian Institute of Public Health).
The largest cocaine seizures have been recorded in Belgium, Spain, and the Netherlands, countries with major ports that are suitable for drug transport. "European seizures now exceed those in the US, which has historically been considered the largest cocaine market in the world," said Petković.
He added that, after cannabis, cocaine is the second most commonly used illegal drug in Europe, with around 1.4% or four million adult Europeans aged 15 to 64 having used it in the last 12 months.
The number of adult Europeans who have used cocaine at some point in their lives is 5.4%, equivalent to 15.4 million people.
