Aim
A key task for the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) is to regularly report on the state of the drugs phenomenon and emerging trends in Europe. This presentation is intended to provide an overview of the drug situation in Europe based on the latest data available. The presentation will cover both demand and supply side trends and latest policy developments.

Methods
This presentation is based on information provided to the EUDA by EU Member States, Türkiye and Norway through an annual reporting process. The EUDA monitoring system integrates multiple key epidemiological indicators, including from general population surveys, treatment demand systems, mortality registries and other standardized reporting tools. Over time, the agency’s reporting system has gradually integrated complementary, more timely data sources in collaboration with external networks, such as wastewater analysis and data derived from syringe residues. This is combined with qualitative information reported through standardised reporting tools. Since 2005, the EU Early Warning System collects case-based data on new psychoactive substances.

Results
Based on most recent information provided by European countries and networks, this presentation will illustrate how the European drug market is rapidly changing and increasingly complex. Analysis of supply-related indicators in Europe suggests that drug availability remains high across nearly all substance types. Substances are available at high potency or purity, or in new forms or combinations. These mixtures include novel substances, for which both consumer and scientific knowledge about the health risks may be limited.

One example is the increasing diversity of cannabis products available on both the illicit and regulated consumer markets. Concerns have been raised about the adulteration of some products sold on the illicit market as cannabis, which may contain potent synthetic cannabinoids. This more complex drug market is further illustrated by the perceived increase in unregulated ‘psychedelic retreats,’ where the use of psychedelic substances is incorporated into therapeutic or spiritually oriented interventions.

Implications for policy and practice
Europe is experiencing a rapidly changing policy context. At the European level, the EU Drugs Strategy and Action Plan for 2021–2025 is currently undergoing evaluation, while the EU Strategy to Tackle Organised Crime for 2021–2025 enters its final year. At the national level, innovative policies have been developed in some European countries to control and regulate drug markets. Scientifically robust monitoring and evaluation frameworks, including reliable baseline data, are essential to assess the health and market impacts of changes in substance regulation.