Ireland has the highest number of young people who say they have used so-called psychoactive or synthetic drugs, according to a European Commission report.
A Eurobarometer survey commissioned by the justice directorate found new substances that imitate the effects of illicit drugs are increasingly popular, with 5 per cent of Europeans aged 15-24 saying they have used them.
The figures were highest in Ireland (16 per cent), followed by Poland (9 per cent), Latvia (9 per cent), the UK (8 per cent) and Luxembourg (7 per cent).
The report however urged caution in interpreting the results of questions on personal use of certain substances and questions about new substances. “Despite the EU coverage, the sample sizes in each member state were relatively small to assess actual consumption, while the perception of substances included in the category ‘new psychoactive substances’ may have varied across countries and age groups,” it said.
Source: Elaine Edwards, Irish Times, 12/07/2011
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