Report/ Albanians have the highest cocaine consumption among drug users in Europe

2025-03-10 08:14:00, Ekonomi CNA

Report/ Albanians have the highest cocaine consumption among drug users in

Albanian drug users have the highest level of cocaine consumption in Europe, with 41% of users having consumed cocaine, compared to 21% which is the average for the Western Balkans and 29% for the European Union, according to data from the European Union Drugs Agency EUDA survey (see chart Drug use in the last 12 months by substance).

The European Web Survey on Drugs collected data between May and July 2024 from drug users aged 18 and over living in EU countries and outside. In total, over 66,000 people from 31 countries participated.

In the Western Balkans, 4,442 individuals aged 18 and over who use drugs responded (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia).

Analysis of respondents' responses revealed key findings on their drug use in the past 12 months. The public data includes aggregated findings for the European Union and the Western Balkans.

Response data from Albanian individuals for Albania were made available by EUDA specifically for Monitor and were processed by Monitor.

Albania, cannabis and cocaine the most used drugs

Cannabis remains the most commonly used drug by Albanian individuals, with 56% of respondents declaring that they use it. Use of this substance is slightly lower than the European Union average (59%) and higher than in the Western Balkans (42%).

Albania is the only country where cocaine is the second most commonly used substance after cannabis. 41% of drug users said they had used cocaine in the last 12 months. This percentage is twice as high as the Western Balkans average and well above the EU level of 29%.

In the Western Balkans, the second most consumed substance is Benzodiazepines (over-the-counter), with 22% of users, compared to 5% in Albania.

In Albania, the third most consumed substance is MDMA/Ecstasy (16%) followed by mushrooms and truffles (11%).

Report/ Albanians have the highest cocaine consumption among drug users in

Cocaine dominates bars

Powder cocaine is most commonly consumed in bars, with 75% of Albanian users saying they used it in bars. At home, 69% of respondents had used it, at parties or music festivals (51%), in the car (35%), in public spaces such as parks (29%), and outdoors (29%).

Crystal cocaine (crack) is consumed more at home (75%) and less in bars (33%).

The main reason for using powder cocaine is to get high/for fun (58%), to reduce the effects of alcohol (39%), to reduce stress/relax (31%), to socialize (24%), to stay awake (22%).

Cannabis is consumed in nature to reduce stress

Outdoor spaces are the main environment where cannabis is consumed by Albanian users, with 67% of responses. The home (one's own or someone else's) also remains a preferred environment (61%). At parties or music festivals was the choice for 44% of respondents.

The main reason that prompts Albanians to use cannabis is to reduce stress and relax (70%), to have fun/for fun (58%), to improve sleep (43%), to manage depression (41%), for spiritual reasons (31%), for addiction (24%), and to socialize (19%).

Report/ Albanians have the highest cocaine consumption among drug users in

Cannabis at school, cocaine at work

17% of Albanian respondents said that one of the places where they consumed cannabis was at school. 11% said they consumed it at work.

Although at low rates, cocaine also enters schools, with 4% of respondents saying they also consumed it at school.

The highest is the consumption of powder cocaine at work, with 20% of respondents saying they had smoked cocaine at the office.

Even for crystal cocaine, 17% of Albanian users said they had taken it at work.

Cannabis with cigarettes and alcohol and cocaine with alcohol and nicotine

Polydrug use, which refers to the consumption of two or more substances at the same time, has been reported for all types of drugs. According to survey data for Albania, 70% of respondents said they used cannabis with cigarettes/nicotine and 46% said cannabis with alcohol.

83% of powder cocaine users said they combined it with alcohol and the same number with cigarettes/nicotine. 26% combined cocaine with cannabis.

Where do Albanians find drugs?

One of the survey questions relates to the source of purchase of drug substances.

For cannabis, 46% of Albanian users said they found it from relatives or people they know, 31% said they contact sources directly via phone, email or text message.

Friends and associates are also the main source of obtaining cocaine (68%) and 47% through direct contacts by phone, email or text messages.

Even for other substances such as Methamphetamine, Amphetamine, heroin, the main source remains buying from friends./ Monitor Magazine