Europe’s drug use under the magnifying glass – Zurich remains Switzerland’s cocaine capital

The European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) presented its new wastewater analysis on Wednesday. This shows that cocaine use in Europe continues to increase. Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, is also becoming increasingly popular.

For the analysis of the project, scientists took samples from sewage treatment plants in 104 European cities in the spring of 2022. The samples were then analyzed for residues and degradation products of five different drugs: cocaine, amphetamine, methamphetamine, MDMA/ecstasy and ketamine (as well as cannabis).

Which drugs were used the most and where?

MDMA/Ecstasy: The highest exposure was in the water of Belgium, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Spain and Portugal established. Here the picture is mixed: there was an increase in Southern and Central Europe, while at the same time there was a decrease in Northern Europe.

Ketamine: In fact, ketamine is used as a strong pain reliever and anesthetic. However, the drug is increasingly being abused as a party drug. For this reason, the drug was included in the analysis for the first time. The highest mass load was in the Danish cities, Italy, Spain and Portugal found it.

Cocaine: Cocaine use continues to rise this year. Cocaine residues in wastewater remain highest in the Netherlands Western and Southern European cities. Especially in Belgium, the Netherlands, Spain and Portugal. The highest pollution can be found in the Belgian port city of Antwerp. In recent years, the port of Antwerp has become the most important gateway for the drug from South America.

methamphetamine: Methamphetamine, also known as crystal meth, is becoming increasingly popular. So far, the drug has mainly been found in the Czech Republic and Slovakia for. But now remnants of it have also been found in Belgium, East Germany, Spain, Cyprus, Turkey, but also in Denmark, Latvia, Norway and more.

Amphetamine: Here, too, the residuals were very different. The highest exposure was seen in cities in Northern and Eastern Europe.

Hemp: With an estimated 22.6 million users, cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug in Europe.

However, it should be noted that there are differences between cities in the same country. These can be explained by different geographical, social and demographic characteristics such as age distribution, universities and nightlife. In most countries with multiple study sites, residues of three of the stimulants (cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA) were higher in large cities than in small towns.

Drug use in Switzerland

Test samples were also taken in Switzerland. Namely in Zurich, Geneva, Basel and Bern. Cocaine, methamphetamine and MDMA were the most common Zurich proven. Cannabis residues were highest in Baselamphetamines for this Bern.

Just yesterday, the cannabis project in the city of Zurich was approved by the Federal Office of Public Health (BAG). This means that the conditions for the production of study cannabis are in place. With the BAG approval granted, the two producers Pure Production AG and Swissextract can start growing the cannabis plants needed for the research. Consumers can now register to participate in the survey. The only requirements: be of legal age, live in the city of Zurich and use cannabis regularly.

According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics, it is mainly young people who use drugs. However, there is a lack of current data to understand illicit drug use in Switzerland. The latest current information was published in 2017.

However, according to the Swiss Addiction Panorama 2023, it can be assumed that the cocaine problem in Switzerland will increase and that heroin problems will decrease. You don’t know with cannabis. The current drug market is characterized by the combination of very low prices and highly dosed products. According to the Swiss Addiction Panorama, 1 gram of high-dose cocaine or 5 grams of heavily adulterated cocaine costs less than 100 francs. Ecstasy in pill or powder form and cannabis are also cheaply available.