The Bridge is a drug rehab in Marbella and we see first-hand the damage that illicit drugs have on the mental and physical health and wellbeing of our clients. Drug addiction causes havoc in all aspects of their lives, causes a breakdown in relationships and is a source of so much pain in the individual and for their families. Unfortunately, it is a growing problem, and the latest report into EU drug markets in 2024 states that there is an “unprecedented increase in the availability of illicit drugs” in the EU, which “has wide-ranging impacts on our society, evident in drug-related deaths and the number of people seeking treatment.”
We believe that it’s vital that parents, young people and authorities understand the scale and impact of drugs in our society and want to share with you some of the key findings from this report in this article. You can also download the EU Drug Markets Analysis 2024
The Scale of the EU Drug Market
Unfortunately, drugs are big business and a major source of income for organized crime. 2021 data shows that it’s a €31 billion industry. The report breaks this down to the different drugs, with Cannabis representing 39% of this market, Cocaine 37%, Heroin 17%, Amphetamines 5% and Ecstasy/MDMA 2%. The report raises concerns over increasing consumption, due to increased availability of cheap and highly potent pure drugs.
Drug use and prevalence
- Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug in the EU, with an estimated 22.6 million adults having used it within the last year
- Cocaine is the second most commonly used illicit drug in the EU, and the consumer market is on the rise
- Heroin continues to be the most commonly used illicit opioid and is a significant contributor to the harms of illicit drug use in the European Union
- About 90 tonnes of amphetamine was consumed in 2021 in the EU
- Methamphetamine use is growing in the EU and there are fears that EU based production will spill over to increase users of the drug in this area
- MDMA remains a popular drug, generally associated with episodic patterns of consumption in nightlife and entertainment settings. The report is concerned by the high-dose MDMA tablets on the market, as well as the cutting of MDMA with other harmful substances.
- Recently, mixtures of new opioids with benzodiazepines (‘benzo-dope’) or the animal sedative xylazine (‘tranq-dope’) have been reported in Europe. The mixtures are linked to
increased harms, including risk of overdose.
The dangers of illicit drugs
We all know that drugs are highly addictive and overdose is a common cause of death in addicts. This has become even more problematic with the arrival of highly potent opioids, particularly benzimidazoles (nitazenes), which pose an increased risk of life-threatening poisoning.
A recent fact sheet from the National Institute on Drugs and Addiction, revealed that over 40 million people in the US alone had a substance use disorder, yet only 6.5% received treatment. Very sadly, over 100,000 people died of drug overdoses in 2021 in the US with the arrival of the more potent opioids, and this is on the rise. The BBC reported that these contributed to 75,000 deaths in the US in 2022.
In the UK, an estimated 9.5% of people reported drug use between March 2022 and 2023, with 7.6% using cannabis and 3.3% using a class A drug. The prevalence of nitazenes in the UK have already been linked to overdoses and deaths. In December 2023, the BBC reported 54 deaths linked to these super-strength drugs, and there were 40 further cases under investigation.
But the drug market affects more than just the individuals that take the drugs, as Ylva Johansson European Commissioner Migration and Home Affairs explains in the foreword –
“The market for illicit drugs, controlled by criminal networks, represents a serious security threat to the European Union. It endangers public health and safety while fostering extreme violence and corruption, undermining the very fabric of society, democracy and the rule of law”.
Drug Addiction and Treatment
As drug availability increases and legislation changes, drug use will increase and unfortunately that will increase levels of addiction. According to the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, there was a 23% increase in drug use in 2021, compared to the previous decade. In the same period, the number of people suffering from drug-use disorders increased by 45 per cent to 39.5 million globally – a worrying trend.
If you’re worried that someone you know is addicted to drugs please read our article – What are the signs that someone is addicted to drugs? It is possible to stop taking drugs and turn your life around. Drug addiction treatment programmes have been found to be effective in the reduction in substance use; improvement in personal health and social function; and reduction in public health and safety risks. But unfortunately, only one in five people suffering from a drug use disorder was receiving treatment.
At The Bridge, we see just how much an effective, intensive drug addiction treatment programme can be, especially in a residential drug rehab. When clients come to us they can’t even imagine a life without drugs, but with therapy, counselling and support to understand why they use and to develop tools against relapse, the transformations are extraordinary.
We help them to rediscover who they are without the drugs, build their confidence, strength and resilience and teach them how to best look after their mental and physical health in the real world. They leave us with hope and excitement for the future and we love seeing how far they come in recovery. We see that change is possible and that there is life after drug addiction and would encourage anyone struggling with their addiction, or their family members to seek help and believe that they can turn their lives around.
The transformations that we see at The Bridge every day are inspiring and bring us so much joy and happiness. Even people who have tried and failed with rehab or therapy before can be helped with the right programme, as you can see from this fantastic story from a client who came to us for a bespoke intensive rehabilitation programme and left us clean, sober and ready to embrace his new life fully.
“I had been struggling with my cocaine addiction for years. I tried rehab, therapy and none of it helped. Finally, I reached out to The Bridge and enrolled in an intensive program. I engaged with therapists, came up with a plan of action and worked through a lot of areas that I was blind to. This has allowed me to make a fresh start, with both recovery and life”
We just love this feedback from JC on how transformative her stay at The Bridge has been.
“My experience at The Bridge has been phenomenal. It has completely and utterly changed me as a person for the better. I never, ever thought I could like a life free of drugs and alcohol, however with The Bridge’s help, and guidance, they have enabled me to see that it is possible.
With work and dedication, I have been able to achieve my goals.
My time at The Bridge is a time that I will never forget. I’ve laughed and cried and made friends I will never forget and memories I will cherish forever. The support I’ve received from The Bridge has been life changing and without it I wouldn’t be where I am today.”
If you’re ready to make a change and live a life free from drugs, contact us today.
