Druginduced deaths in Malta higher than EU average, new report shows

● Less than 20% of drug treatment clients are female

The number of drug-induced deaths of people aged between 15 and 64 in Malta is slightly higher than the most recent European average, according to a report by the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) published this week.

The report shows that the mortality rate amongst people aged between 15 and 64, termed by the report as ‘adults’, was 28 deaths per million deaths in 2015.

Although this number is relatively low, the rate is slightly higher than the most recent European average of 20 deaths per million. According to the data, the highest rate was reported in Estonia (103 per million), followed by Sweden (100 per million) and Norway (76 per million) respectively.

Drug-induced deaths refer to those deaths which are directly attributed to the use of illicit drugs, specifically poisonings and overdoses.

The data, which was collected in 2015, shows that from the victims of the drug-induced deaths, 88% were male and 13% were female. The number was also much higher compared to the previous few years, however remained within the range reported throughout the past decade.

The report stated that, “toxicological analyses confirmed the presence of opioids in all the deaths, either alone or in combination with other illicit stimulants.”

The mean age was 36 years old.

Less than 20% of drug treatment clients are female

The report also showed that less than one fifth or 20% of clients in specialized drug treatment in Malta are female. The data showed that out of the clients entering drug treatment for cannabis usage, 89% were male whilst only 11% were female.

Similarly, 82% of individuals entering treatment for cocaine use were male whilst 18% were female. When it comes to heroin use, 81% entering treatment were male and 19% were female.

Cannabis most common drug

Cannabis is the most commonly used illicit drug among the Maltese adult population aged 18-65 years.

According to the 2013 general population study, around 4.3% of those aged 18-65 years reported having used cannabis during their lifetime. The level of lifetime use of illicit drugs other than cannabis was 1.4% (MDMA, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin, mephedrone, any of the NPS or LSD); MDMA was the most popular among this group of substances.

Drug use was more prevalent in younger adults, with the prevalence of lifetime use of cannabis at 5.1% among 18- to 24-yearolds. In general, the use of illicit drugs was more common among males than females. In the 2013 study, among those who had used cannabis during their lifetime, the average age at first use was just under 19.

Drug use among 15- to 16-yearold students is reported in the 2015 European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD). This survey has been conducted in Malta since 1995 and the latest data are from 2015. In 2015, Maltese students reported levels of lifetime cannabis use that were lower than the ESPAD average (35 countries), while levels of lifetime use of illicit drugs other than cannabis and lifetime use of NPS were very close to the ESPAD average.

For two key variables studied, the Maltese students reported above average levels: alcohol use in the last 30 days and heavy episodic drinking in the last 30 days. Other than this, Maltese students reported substance use levels that were around or below the ESPAD averages.

Drug markets

Cannabis is also the most frequently seized drug in Malta, and it is the only illicit drug cultivated in the country. It is mainly cultivated by home growers, although commercial operations have been discovered occasionally. Cannabis resin is imported from Tunisia and Libya.

Heroin arrives from Turkey, via North Africa or Western European countries, and cocaine is smuggled mainly through Spain. Synthetic stimulants, such as MDMA and amphetamines, are imported from other European countries, particularly from the Netherlands.

The number of illicit drug seizures in Malta doubled between 2009 and 2015. In terms of quantities, in 2015, cannabis resin, cocaine, heroin and MDMA were seized in larger amounts than in 2014.

The report also goes into the retail price and purity of the main illicit substances seized. Cannabis resin is typically sold at around €15-€30 per gram.

Heroin sells at €60-€78 per gram. The price of Cocaine varies from €18 to €80 per gram, while the price of MDMA (ecstasy) is typically between €7 and €10 euro per tablet.