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Date: November 22, 2024 Fri
Time: 11:35 am
Time: 11:35 am
Results for substance use and abuse (europe)
2 results foundAuthor: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Title: Problem Amphetamine and Methamphetamine Use in Europe Summary: Amphetamine and methamphetamine are two closely related synthetic substances that act as stimulants of the central nervous system. They can be ingested, snorted or injected, and methamphetamine, particularly in its crystalline form, can be smoked. The two substances can be so similar in their effects and appearance that often the user cannot tell them apart. Their effects include elevated mood; a sense of well-being; increased energy, wakefulness, concentration, alertness, and motor and speech activities; improved performance in physical and mental tasks; and reduced fatigue. Among other effects viewed by users as positive and rewarding are decreased social or sexual inhibitions, and the desire to lengthen social interactions or to socialise with others using the drug. This broad range of effects might explain why the use of amphetamines has been reported among many different population groups including soldiers, workers (e.g. truck or taxi drivers, hospital staff), students, sex workers, clubbers or problem heroin users. Of the main illicit drugs, the patterns and geography of amphetamines (1) use in Europe are among the most difficult to describe. There are several reasons for this. First, the prevalence of amphetamines use varies greatly between countries. The diversity of user groups is possibly one of the largest of all illicit substances found in Europe. In addition, a small number of countries have problem amphetamines use at the heart of their drug problem and, when this is the case, it has very specific socio-historical and epidemiological characteristics. The stimulant market in Europe also appears to be changing frequently, particularly in nightlife settings, with shifts in popularity between substances such as amphetamines, cocaine, ecstasy, piperazines or new stimulant drugs such as mephedrone. Finally, Europe is an important producer of amphetamines with several countries reporting illicit production facilities on their territory. The provision of care for those with amphetamines problems is another area in which differences exist between countries. In general, treatment services are more attuned to the needs of amphetamines users in the countries where problematic use of these substances is longer established, while elsewhere services are targeted to the needs of the largest group of problem drug users, mostly opioid users. Organised in two parts, this Selected issue aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the history, health effects, supply and use of amphetamines in Europe, as well as describing their problematic use and the responses to them in the European countries that are most heavily affected. The first part begins with a short history of the use of these drugs and a presentation of the laws that are used to control them. This is followed by an analysis of drug supply information, mainly from police and customs services. The next section gives an overview of the prevalence of amphetamines use in the Europe population. The last section of Part I covers the mental and physical health effects of amphetamines use, including a review of the information on infectious diseases and deaths related to these drugs. In Part 2, countries are grouped in four geographical regions and sub-regions according to their amphetamines problems, with particular attention given to those with significant levels of problem amphetamines use. Treatment responses to amphetamines problems are also described for the different countries or groups of countries. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010. 40p. Source: Internet Resource: Selected Issue 2010: Accessed August 16, 2011 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_120112_EN_EMCDDA_SI10_Amphetamines.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_120112_EN_EMCDDA_SI10_Amphetamines.pdf Shelf Number: 122402 Keywords: AmphetaminesDrug Abuse and AddictionDrug Abuse TreatmentMethamphetaminesSubstance Use and Abuse (Europe) |
Author: European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction Title: Treatment and Care for Older Drug Users Summary: The world is passing through a demographic transition, one of the results of which will be an increasing number of older people in the population. With one in five Europeans above the age of 60 — a proportion that is expected to increase — Europe is the continent with the oldest population. By 2050, it is estimated that every fourth person in Europe will be older than 60. As with the general population, there is evidence to suggest that the drug using population, including those who are in treatment, is also ageing. This would bring with it specific challenges for drug treatment services and increase the burden on wider health, support and care services. The objective of the present publication is to document the ageing phenomenon linked to drug use that is now being witnessed in Europe, and particularly the ageing of problem drug users. The current publication also aims to describe the drug use, health and social characteristics of older drug users and to identify their health and social needs. Current policies, practices and the availability of health and social responses for older drug users in Europe are also presented and discussed. This Selected issue begins with a wider discussion on ageing and drug use in Europe, setting the context for the main focus of the report which is an examination of the situation and responses regarding older problem drug users in the European Union. Details: Luxembourg: Publications Office of the European Union, 2010. 36p. Source: Internet Resource: Selected Issues 2010: Accessed August 16, 2011 at: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_120120_EN_EMCDDA_SI10_Ageing.pdf Year: 2010 Country: Europe URL: http://www.emcdda.europa.eu/attachements.cfm/att_120120_EN_EMCDDA_SI10_Ageing.pdf Shelf Number: 122403 Keywords: Drug Abuse and AddictionDrug Abuse TreatmentSubstance Use and Abuse (Europe) |