05. 11. 09. - 16:00

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05. 11. 09. - 16:00

Drug use 'stable', claims report

By David Rogers

Drug use in Austria is "stable", according to a Health Ministry report released today (Thurs).

Marion Weigl, who headed the research into the report commissioned by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) and the Austrian Health Ministry, said: "Consumption of illegal drugs is relatively stable in Austria. Cannabis constitutes a big part of such consumption."

The report says there were 169 confirmed deaths linked to consumption of illegal drugs in 2008 compared to 175 in 2007.

The report adds that most consumers of such drugs are in an "experimental" phase of their lives.

Polls of 4,196 Austrians older than 14 last year showed that 12 per cent had tried cannabis, two per cent ecstasy, amphetamines and cocaine, two per cent LSD and organic drugs such as mushrooms and one per cent opiates at least once in their lives.

The percentage of people who used cannabis in 2008 was 2.8 per cent, and slightly more than one per cent for those who had used another illegal drug.

The report notes that 22,000 to 33,500 Austrians engaged in "problematic" drug consumption last year, with many mixing different illegal drugs in potentially dangerous combinations.

Austrian Times

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