Consumption on the rise

“Not enough is happening”: ÖVP calls for anti-drug plan

Heroin use in particular poses a major problem for the health and safety authorities in Carinthia.

(Bild: APA/HELMUTH FOHRINGER (Symbolbild))

The use of illegal drugs is on the rise, but what can be done about it?

Cannabis is still the most commonly consumed illegal substance. Much more dangerous, however, are illegal opioids such as heroin - which causes the biggest problems in Carinthia after marijuana. Closely followed by cocaine and MDMA or ecstasy. According to the published "Report on the Drug Situation 2023", which was carried out on behalf of the European Monitoring Center for Narcotic Drugs and the Ministry of Health.

It is shocking that Carinthia has the biggest problem with illegal substances after Vienna, and that users are getting younger and younger. We as a society must fight against this.

Markus Malle, ÖVP-Klubobmann

The figures are based on monitoring and the examination of wastewater samples, as we know them from the coronavirus pandemic, for example. Various projects and programs for those affected are being used to combat the rise in drug use, which makes the number of drug-related deaths in the previous year all the more alarming: 23. Too little is happening, says ÖVP party leader Markus Malle.

Schools have a duty
"Educational institutions also have a duty. It is still incomprehensible to me that principals exclude prevention workers from their schools. It must be everyone's concern that the young generation says no to drugs." He calls for a prevention offensive as well as transparency about past and future cases.