FAMAGUSTA GAZETTE – Drug-related deaths in Cyprus increased sharply in 2023, with 17 fatalities recorded, compared to 5 in 2022 and 14 in 2004, according to data from the Cyprus Addiction Treatment Authority.
During the presentation of the European report on drug trends, Ioanna Giasemi, head of the authority’s Monitoring Department, noted that 18% of the general population has used drugs at least once.
Seizures of illicit substances also highlight rising drug activity. The Hellenic Drug Enforcement Agency confiscated 24.7 kilograms of cocaine in 2023, down from 37.9 kilos in 2022 but significantly higher than the single kilogram seized in 2004. Authorities also seized 554.2 kilograms of herbal cannabis in 2023, a sharp increase from 348.3 kilos in 2022 and 23 kilos in 2004.
A recent survey in Cyprus sampled 3,500 people aged 15–64 using multistage stratified methods, showing that intravenous drug use remained relatively stable, with 314 users in 2023 compared to 331 in 2022.
Cannabis use has been rising, with 18% of the population reporting lifetime use in 2023, up from 14% in 2019 and 6.6% in 2006. Recent use also grew to 6%, while current usage reached 3.1%, reflecting a steady increase over the years.
