In 2014 ten deaths in Cyprus were directly or indirectly related to drugs, while from 2004 to 2014 160 deaths have officially been attributed to the use of illegal addictive substances, 96 of which directly and the rest indirectly.
Heroin is the culprit causing the majority of deaths.
The outcomes of a European report on Drugs a result of a comprehensive long term analysis of the phenomenon in the 28 EU member states, Norway and Turkey, were presented at a press conference on Tuesday, by the Cyprus Anti-Drugs Council and the Cyprus Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in the presence of Minister of Health George Pamborides.
Cannabis is the most widespread illegal substance by people between 14 and 64 years old, while cocaine, which records small levels of use, is the most popular stimulant and has been used at least once by one third of the same group age which corresponds to 8 thousand people.
A percentage of 0.6% of young adults aged 15 to 34 said they have used cocaine in the last year.
Ioanna Yiasemi, head of the Council`s Monitoring and Documentation Department said that Cyprus is among European countries with the lowest percentages of cannabis albeit the ratio of people who report cannabis as their main substance they use is increasing.
Cyprus is also low on cocaine use with the percentage of people seeking help due to cocaine abuse recorded at 9% and without significant variations.
The illegal purchase of cocaine has remained in the same levels as in 2014 and the number of criminal cases related to cocaine comes to 107 whilst 31.75 kg of the substance were seized, the greatest volume seized in the last decade.
Ecstasy or similar type pills use in Cyprus is very low and it is extremely rare of people to seek treatment. However the number of pills seized in 2014 came to 17,214.
The percentage of methamphetamine use in Cyprus is 0.4% in the age group 15 – 34 and is below the European average. However in recent years the number of people seeking rehabilitation has increased. The total number of people who use methamphetamine ranges between 80 and 244.
The use of heroin is more popular in Cyprus among other EU citizens or third country nationals while the number of Greek Cypriots using the drug is significantly lower.
At the same time as regards the so called `new drugs` a quantitative study in 2015 showed that 2/3 of participants are aware of the new substances and about 5 to 3% said they have used them, while 2% said they used `new drugs` during the last year.
Addressing the press conference Pamborides assured that combating drug trade and use and protecting addicts are high on the government`s agenda, adding that the National Committee on Drugs which is chaired by Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades works towards that direction.
