EU Drug Agency Reports 7,600 Overdose Deaths in 2024, Mostly Opioid-Related, Amid Steady New Psychoactive Substances and High-Potency Cannabis Use

At least 7,600 people died of overdoses in the EU in 2024, according to EUDA estimates, with opioids often in combination with other substances remaining the leading cause of drug-related deaths. One gram of certain substances is enough to make several thousand lethal doses, creating a narrow margin between use and overdose, the agency stated.

The report recorded one new psychoactive substance detected every week, with 50 such substances reported for the first time in Europe in 2025.

9 million adults reporting use in the past year. In some resin forms, impurity reached 33 percent, and higher THC levels increase the likelihood of psychosis with longer-term use, the agency noted. Wider availability of high-potency cannabis products, extracts and edibles is increasing health risks, with some linked to emergency hospital presentations.

Authorities have warned about cannabis adulterated with synthetic cannabinoids and contamination from potentially hazardous pesticides. Cocaine seizures fell to 330 tonnes in 2024 from 419 tonnes in 2023, yet the number of seizures rose, suggesting traffickers shifted to smaller, more fragmented shipments. Cocaine still accounts for around a third of people entering drug treatment in Europe.

The European agency called on member states to invest in monitoring and preparedness systems and to pursue a balanced approach targeting both supply and demand, grounded in public health and human rights.