At least one out of ten Romanians, aged between 15-64, has used a type of illicit drug throughout their life (experimental consumption), while 6pct of them have also used it in the last year (recent consumption), a report of the National Anti-Drug Agency (ANA) shows, according to Agerpres.

The National Anti-Drug Agency is drafting annually a national report on the situation of drugs in Romania (with data from the previous year), a reference document for specialists and practitioners in the area of drugs, for decision-makers and for any person interested in the latest trends recorded in the development of this phenomenon.

The 2022 national report on the drug situation, drawn up by ANA specialists, includes the latest data and information related to drug use and trafficking in Romania, highlighting the development trends recorded by Romania, both in terms of preventing drug use and that of combating drug trafficking, as well as the measures adopted by public institutions in relation to the drug problem.

The ANA mentions that the analyzed data are those recorded at the level of 2021.

The main drugs consumed in Romania – 10.7pct of those aged between 15-64 have used at least one type of illicit drug throughout their life (experimental consumption), while 6pct of them have also used in last year (recent consumption).

A slowdown in the growth rate of consumption is noted for most illicit drugs, with the exception of the use of new psychoactive substances (NSP).

The highest consumption rates are noted among the young population (15-34 years). The adolescence is the period with the greatest vulnerability to the initiation of drug use, the lowest age of onset being declared for the use of new psychoactive substances (13 years).

Cannabis continues to be one of the most used drugs in Romania, both by the general population (2nd place in the ranking of the most used illicit drugs in Romania, according to the new psychoactive substances), and by the school population.

At regional level, regardless of the type of drug used, the highest prevalence of drug use is recorded in the Bucharest – Ilfov region.

In respect to the requests for treatment as a result of drug use, similar to the previous year, when a significant decrease was noticed in the number of drug users requesting assistance, this downward trend is reinforced, registering 3,097 drug users who requested assistance, which means 10pct less compared to the previous year, mainly for the consumption of cannabis, opioids and new psychoactive substances.

Agerpres