Injecting drug use: lowest levels ever among new treatment entrants
Injecting drug use is most commonly associated with opioids, although in a few countries, the injection of stimulants such as amphetamines or cocaine is a problem.
Only 12 countries have estimates of the prevalence of injecting drug use since 2012, where they range from less than 1 to 9 cases per 1 000 population aged 15–64.
Among first-time clients entering drug treatment in 2015 with heroin as their primary drug, 29 % reported injecting as their main route of administration, down from 43 % in 2006. In this group, levels of injecting vary between countries, from 8 % in Spain to 90 % or more in Latvia, Lithuania and Romania. Injecting is reported as the main route of administration by 46 % of first-time primary amphetamines clients - a small increase since 2006 - and by 1 % of first-time cocaine clients. Taking the main three injected drugs together, among first-time entrants to treatment in Europe, injecting as the main route of administration has declined from 28 % in 2006 to 19 % in 2015.
Trends in first-time treatment entrants reporting injecting as the main route of administration of their primary drug (percent)
The injection of synthetic cathinones, although not a widespread phenomenon, continues to be reported in specific populations, including opioid injectors and drug treatment clients in some countries. In a recent EMCDDA study, 10 countries reported synthetic cathinone injection (often with other stimulants and GHB) in the context of sex parties among small groups of men who have sex with men.
Licit synthetic opioids are increasingly misused