EU survey indicates growing public concern over regional drug trafficking

The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), based in Lisbon, recently published its first major survey examining public perception of drug-related issues across 35 European countries. The study, which synthesized data from 95,883 respondents aged 15 and older, reveals that 60% of Europeans consider drug use and trafficking a serious problem in their local environment. Furthermore, nearly half of all respondents (49%) reported a perceived increase in drug trafficking activities within their regions over the past five years.

The findings display significant geographical variation in public sentiment. In Cyprus, 78% of citizens view drug-related issues as a serious local problem, with 67% believing trafficking has escalated significantly over the last five years. In contrast, Denmark reported lower levels of concern at 44%, while North Macedonia reached the highest levels of concern among non-EU partners at 85%. Across the survey, the involvement of children and adolescents in drug distribution was identified as a primary societal concern.

This data suggests a growing public perception of declining local safety, prompting calls for more robust interventions against organized crime. The survey serves as a baseline for the EUDA to monitor long-term trends in substance abuse and its perceived impact on European communities.