Drug Death Ratio Down, Still High
The annual report by the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction shows that Estonia leads the continent in drug deaths per population.
The EU's average drug lethality is 20 deaths per million residents in the age group between 16-64. In 2010 - year of the statistics in the report - the number in Estonia was 111 deaths per million, the report reveals.
The number has, however, decreased from 146 people per million since last year's report when Estonia still dominated the draconian stat.
Synthetic opioids cause majority of the deaths. According to the report, 95 percent of those who sought treatment were opioid users. Heroin's availability in Europe has decreased and both Estonian and Finnish black markets are reported to be clean of the stuff.
Estonia is among seven countries where rehabilitation service is available to less than half of those who apply, said the report.
The use of inhalants, such as various glues, sprays and solvents is fourth highest in Europe after Croatia, Latvia and Slovenia. Fifteen percent of 15-16 year old youngsters have tried inhalants. The EU average is nine percent.