European Commission calls for rapid action to tackle new drugs, “legal highs” and trafficking routes

European Commission calls for rapid action to tackle new drugs, “legal highs” and trafficking routes: "Every year, 6,500 to 7,000 people die in the EU from a drug overdose. Between 25 and 30 million Europeans are estimated to have taken some type of illicit drug in the last year, including 4 million who took cocaine. There were 1,000 cocaine-related deaths.
“Drug abuse and related crimes affect the lives of millions of Europeans. Despite some encouraging progress, we need to do more to reduce the harm caused by drugs and react quickly to new substances entering the market,” said Vice-President Viviane Reding, the EU’s Justice Commissioner. “I call on EU governments to keep up drug prevention and treatment services in the context of the economic crisis, which could worsen the drug situation in the EU.”"