The use of new substances imitating the effects of illicit drugs has risen considerably among young people in the EU, according to figures released today by the European Commission on the occasion of the International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.
"The European Commission has proposed legislation to protect young people against harmful new psychoactive substances. The findings issued today prove that there is no time to lose: the new rules must be put in place swiftly so that we can prevent dangerous substances from emerging on the European market," said the EU's Justice Commissioner, Viviane Reding.
According to a new EU study, the average EU consumption of these new substances among young people (15-24 years) has increased from 5 percent in 2011 to 8 percent in 2014. The highest increases occurred in Spain (5 percent to 13 percent), Ireland (16 percent to 22 percent), and the UK (8 percent to 10 percent).
EU countries have reported more than 360 new psychoactive substances in Europe since 1997