PMID- 18368604
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20080417
LR  - 20191210
IS  - 1465-3362 (Electronic)
IS  - 0959-5236 (Linking)
VI  - 27
IP  - 3
DP  - 2008 May
TI  - Quite a lot of smoke but very limited fire--the use of methamphetamine in Europe.
PG  - 236-42
LID - 10.1080/09595230801932588 [doi]
AB  - INTRODUCTION AND AIMS: This paper provides an overview of the historical 
      development, current situation and potential future diffusion of methamphetamine 
      (MA) use in Europe. DESIGN AND METHODS: The analysis is based on a review of 
      published and grey literature, as well as data collected as part of the ongoing 
      monitoring of the drug situation in Europe. Some qualitative surveys among 
      high-risk populations do exist, but overall the general low prevalence of 
      methamphetamine use in most of Europe means that the data available to explore 
      patterns of use are limited. RESULTS: In many parts of Europe, amphetamine use is 
      well established and the injecting of amphetamines has historically constituted 
      an important component of the drug problem in many Nordic countries. 
      Methamphetamine problems are long documented in the Czech and Slovak republics, 
      but there is no current evidence of widespread use of MA elsewhere in Europe. 
      Concern that MA use is spreading in Europe is prompted by some reports of use 
      among high-risk groups. However, the evidence available suggests that even in 
      high-risk populations, the use of MA currently remains uncommon. Europe accounted 
      for less than 1% of worldwide MA seizures in 2005, and over the period 2004-05 
      European ephedrine seizures amounted for 6% of the global figure. DISCUSSION: The 
      spread of MA use is limited and no strong evidence exists that significant 
      diffusion is occurring. It appears likely that methamphetamine diffusion in 
      Europe is impeded by a strong market for other stimulant drugs [cocaine, 
      amphetamine and methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA)]. The future potential for 
      the diffusion of MA may be influenced by factors such as: the relative 
      availability and popularity of other drugs; possible 'leakage' from areas of 
      historical high prevalence; travel by young Europeans to areas of high 
      prevalence; and how users perceive MA as a desirable, suitable and cost-effective 
      alternative to other stimulants available on the European illicit drug market.
FAU - Griffiths, Paul
AU  - Griffiths P
AD  - European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction, EMCDDA, Lisbon, 
      Portugal. paul.griffiths@emcdda.europa.eu <paul.griffiths@emcdda.europa.eu>
FAU - Mravcik, Viktor
AU  - Mravcik V
FAU - Lopez, Dominique
AU  - Lopez D
FAU - Klempova, Danica
AU  - Klempova D
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PT  - Review
PL  - Australia
TA  - Drug Alcohol Rev
JT  - Drug and alcohol review
JID - 9015440
RN  - 0 (Central Nervous System Stimulants)
RN  - 0 (Illicit Drugs)
RN  - 44RAL3456C (Methamphetamine)
SB  - IM
MH  - Amphetamine-Related Disorders/*epidemiology
MH  - Central Nervous System Stimulants/*adverse effects
MH  - Crime/statistics & numerical data
MH  - Europe/epidemiology
MH  - Humans
MH  - Illicit Drugs/adverse effects
MH  - Methamphetamine/*adverse effects
MH  - Prevalence
MH  - Risk Factors
RF  - 42
EDAT- 2008/03/28 09:00
MHDA- 2008/04/18 09:00
CRDT- 2008/03/28 09:00
PHST- 2008/03/28 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2008/04/18 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2008/03/28 09:00 [entrez]
AID - 791755442 [pii]
AID - 10.1080/09595230801932588 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Drug Alcohol Rev. 2008 May;27(3):236-42. doi: 10.1080/09595230801932588.