Overdose deaths on the rise in Portugal

From 2020 to 2021, methadone overdoses increased the most (+131%), followed by cannabis (+89%) and cocaine (+41%). The median age of those who died was 43 years, lower than the 2020 average of 46 years, and more than one substance was found in the vast majority (84%) of overdose cases.

In addition to 74 overdose deaths, there were 339 other deaths with positive toxicological results. Of these, 121 deaths were natural deaths, 121 accidents, 22 unexplained deaths, 44 suicides and 11 homicides.

Data presented in the Country’s Annual Report on Drugs and Addiction 2021, released this Wednesday, shows that young people are seeing an increase in cannabis use, a decrease in heroin use, and a slight increase in cocaine use.

Nationally, among 18-year-olds, the prevalence of drug use in the past 12 months was 25.4%, with the highest rates in the Algarve (30%) and the Azores (27.5%). Cannabis was the most consumed by 23.8% of young people. When asked about lifetime prevalence of drug use, 32% answered that they had already used drugs.

The report notes that 23,932 people were in drug treatment last year (70 percent of them had heroin as their main drug of abuse).

There were 1980 hospitalizations in therapeutic communities and 440 in withdrawal units.

DETAILS

6378 processes

In 2021, 6,378 drug-related crimes were filed. Most of them (4807) were related to cannabis, followed by 707 cases of cocaine. Of the 6,019 defendants, 86% were not drug addicts.

1459 convicted

The report says there were 1,459 drug-related convictions in 2021: 71% for trafficking and 29% for consumption.

“A new cycle in the conditions of life”

Presenting the report, Director of the Intervention Service for Addictive Behaviors and Addictions (SICAD) João Gulan warned of “a new cycle of deteriorating living conditions for the Portuguese.” “Substance use has a very strong relationship with the level of mental health of the population and with life circumstances.”