Pubdate: Wed, 21 Nov 2001
Source: Helsingin Sanomat International Edition (Finland)
Copyright: 2001 2000 Helsingin Sanomat
Contact:  http://www.helsinki-hs.net/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1158
Author: Helsingin Sanomat

INCREASE IN HEROIN CONSUMPTION GREATER IN FINLAND THAN IN OTHER EU COUNTRIES

EU Drug Agency Issues Report

After a period of growing consumption, the increase in the use of heroin is 
slowing down in most member states of the European Union. However, 
according to the annual report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs 
and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA), the use of heroin continues to rise in 
Finland. The report also points out that the intravenous use of drugs is 
reflected in an alarming increase in HIV infections in this country.

Published in Brussels on Tuesday, the EMCDDA report indicates that Finnish 
trends in the use of illegal drugs would seem to be following those of the 
rest of Europe with a delay of a few years.

When the use of heroin was sharply rising in France, Spain, Germany and The 
Netherlands, it was almost unknown in Finland. Now that the use of heroin 
seems to be even slowing down in the larger drug-consuming countries, the 
problem seems to be growing in Finland.

In addition to the use of heroin and the HIV infections linked with it, 
there is a similar gap between Finland and the rest of Europe in drug 
rehabilitation. In most EU countries heroin addicts have been treated for 
years with other drugs such as methadone and buprenorphine. In many 
countries, this kind of replacement and maintenance treatment has helped 
drug users stop injecting, decreasing the risk of HIV infection.

This trend is reflected in a stop in the growth of HIV infections in many 
EU countries. The distribution of clean needles and the establishment of 
supervised injecting rooms have also been seen as efficient ways to limit 
the spread of HIV. Free drug maintenance therapy has also led to a decrease 
in drug-related crime in many countries.

Finland still favours treatment without using drugs. However, buprenorphine 
treatment was introduced in Finland last year.

Although heroin is associated with the greatest amount of problems, such as 
crime, the spread of disease, and overdose deaths, it is used much less 
than many other drugs. Less than one percent of all Europeans have ever 
injected heroin.

Cannabis remains the most frequently used drug. Between 20% and 25% of all 
people between the ages of 15 and 65 in Denmark, Spain, France, Ireland, 
The Netherlands, and the UK have tried cannabis at least once. Finland has 
Europe's lowest cannabis consumption rate: about ten percent of the 
population have tried it. Amphetamine is the most commonly used illegal 
drug in Finland.

Cannabis is a drug favoured by youth, while older people often go for 
cocaine, which has become a party drug for successful adults. The use of 
cocaine has increased in all parts of Europe, especially in a number of 
large cities, such as Barcelona, Milan, Amsterdam, and Frankfurt.

In addition to HIV and AIDS, the EMCDDA is concerned about the spread of 
other infectious diseases such as hepatitis, which are also related to the 
intravenous use of drugs. Between 40% and 90% of EU citizens using drugs 
intravenously have contracted hepatitis-C.

The agency predicts that the treatment of hepatitis will impose a 
considerable burden on Europe's health care systems in the coming years, 
and suggests the use of vaccinations to stop the spread.

Another drug-related hazard facing the EU comes from the east. The use of 
illegal drugs is considerably more common in the EU applicant countries of 
Eastern Europe than in the present member states.
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MAP posted-by: Beth