EU report: Double whammy of high purity and new chemicals pose unknown risk to drug users

Cocaine seizures reached another record high in 2021, with 303 tonnes confiscated. File picture

Europe is being hit by a double whammy of widely available narcotics, often of high purity, and an increasing number of new chemicals which pose unknown risks to unsuspecting users, the EU’s drugs agency has warned.

The ease of access to illegal drugs on the streets of Europe is despite “record” seizures by law enforcement agencies, with hauls of cocaine reaching new records in 2021 and seizures of cannabis climbing to their highest level in a decade.