Malta Reports The EU’s Lowest Drug Use Rates Among Youths

Malta has recorded some of the lowest rates of drug use among young people in the European Union, according to the latest figures shared by the European Parliament and based on data from the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA).

The data, which measures the share of 15 to 34-year-olds who reported using drugs within the past year, places Malta well below the EU average across all four substances surveyed.

Just 1.2% of young people in Malta reported using cannabis in the past year, compared to the EU average of 15.3%. The figures are similarly low for other drugs, with 0.1% reporting cocaine use (EU average 2.5%), 0.1% reporting MDMA use (EU average 2.4%) and 0.1% reporting amphetamine use (EU average 1.4%).

The figures come as the European Union steps up efforts to tackle drug trafficking, describing the illicit drugs market as being worth more than €30 billion annually. The bloc has announced a new action plan aimed at disrupting organised crime through tighter controls at ports and borders, greater cooperation between law enforcement agencies and the use of technologies such as AI-powered detection systems and satellite imagery.

For Malta, a strategic shipping hub in the Mediterranean, the issue remains particularly relevant. While survey data suggests relatively low levels of drug use among young people, the island continues to play an important role in Europe’s efforts to intercept international drug trafficking routes.

The latest statistics suggest Malta continues to stand out as one of the EU’s lowest-reporting countries for youth drug use, even as Europe invests more resources into tackling the wider drug trade.

What do you make of these statistics?

Credit: European Parliament

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Riana Xerri

Riana is an American-Gozitan content creator and nurse. When she's not working, she's jetting off to see her favourite artists live in concert, capturing the magic of each experience.

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