26/11/2004 00:00
TW
0
Staff Reporter AN alarming 27.8 percent of Spaniards aged between 15 and 64, acknowledge having taken some kind of drug at least once in their lifetime. This year's annual report from the European drug watchdog, OEDT, published yesterday, signals that Palma is one of the areas with the highest death rate from drugs overdosing.


The research carried out by OEDT, who have their head offices in Lisbon, indicate that cannabis is the most common illegal substance in Spain.
It had been taken by 24.5 percent of interviewees.
Cocaine followed on behind (4.9%), ecstasy (4.2%), amphetamines (3%) and hallucinogenic drugs (2.9%).
Only 0.5 percent of those approached acknowledged having tried heroin.
The report signals that 41 percent of students who were consulted aged between 14 and 18, admitted having tried at least one illegal drug during their lifetime, in most cases, cannabis. Out of this group, 36.9 percent said they had taken the drug over a long period of time.

Researched rates for taking of other drugs were 7.4% for cocaine; 6.2% for ecstasy; 5% for amphetamines; 4.3% for hallucogenic drugs and 0.5% for heroin.

The greatest demand for treatment for drug abuse in Spain in 2001 was linked to heroin (68.3%); while cocaine takers were responsible for 19% of calls for help.

Amongst those seeking medical advice for the first time, 17% had abused cannabis; 1.6% ecstasy; and 1% amphetamines.
The report had a positive note, however, in terms of the number of cases of AIDS which had been contracted due to the sharing of intravenous needles. Figures fell from 69.6% in 1990 to 52% in 2002.

The European Union report confirmed that the number of deaths due to taking an overdose of drugs, fell in Madrid, Barcelona, Valencia, Zaragoza and Bilbao, from 553 in 1991 to 254 in 1999, and to 245 in 2001.

The highest mortality rates due to an overdose of drugs were registered in areas with the highest levels of intravenous drug dependency, such as Palma and Barcelona.

In terms of the type of drug used in overdosing, the majority of the toxicology tests proved positive not only for opiates (87%); but also for cocaine (54%), barbiturates (52%) and cannabis (19%).

The watchdog, OEDT, was founded in 1993 with the aim of collecting and analysing information on the use of drugs.
It examines the effects of drug taking, its prevention and the way in which health and legal services, amongst others, might establish policies to address the problem.