Lithuanian and European drug use is rising, with cocaine and new psychoactive substances increasing concerns across cities.
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Delfi.lt - LIT
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Drug use is increasing in Lithuania, with notable changes linked to the spread of cocaine and new psychoactive substances, a trend mirrored by European institutions as the drug market becomes more diverse and unpredictable. Between 2016 and 2021, the percentage of Lithuanian residents aged 15-64 who had used at least one drug increased from 11.5% to 14.1%, while those who used drugs in the last 12 months rose from 3.1% to 4.5%. Cannabis remains the most consumed substance, with its lifetime use increasing from 10.8% to 13.7%, and recent use rising from 2.7% to 4.3%. Use of other drugs has also increased, with cocaine showing a significant rise in prevalence. Data from European city sewage analyses shows varied drug use patterns across Lithuanian cities: Kaunas exhibits high levels of methamphetamine use, Vilnius sees consumption of amphetamine and ketamine, and cocaine use is growing across all major cities. Cocaine consumption was highest in Kaunas in 2025 among the analyzed cities. Amphetamine use peaked in Vilnius in 2025. Methamphetamine use varies significantly, with Kaunas showing a very high rate, placing it among the top twenty European cities for methamphetamine use. Overall, key trends in Lithuania include rapidly growing cocaine use in major cities, high levels of methamphetamine in Kaunas, and leading amphetamine and ketamine use in Vilnius, with weekend consumption being particularly high across all cities. The European Drug Agency notes that cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in Europe, but the market is rapidly evolving with an increase in new psychoactive substances. Cocaine use is a growing concern across Europe, with increases noted in 48 out of 85 European cities based on recent sewage analyses. While drug policies vary across Europe—with some focusing on prevention and harm reduction (like Italy) and others on combating trafficking (like Greece)—new synthetic cathinones are emerging as stimulants. In Lithuania, the increased availability of stronger cannabis products mixed with synthetic cannabinoids poses a risk to younger users. Overall, the main challenge in Europe is the rapidly changing drug market, which saw over 7600 overdose deaths in 2024, primarily due to opioids.
