Inside EU Health: Illicit drugs report; tobacco and nicotine; Ebola latest
EU Drugs Agency warns of new health risks, including a rising trend in ketamine use; Smoke Free Partnership accuses tobacco lobby of ‘dirty tricks’ in EU consultation; EU commits further €16.5 million for Ebola outbreak
EU Drugs Agency warns of new health risks, including a rising trend in ketamine use
The European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA) has warned that Europe’s illicit drug market is becoming increasingly diverse, potent and unpredictable. The European Drug Report 2026, covering 29 countries, points to rising health risks linked to cocaine, ketamine, synthetic drugs and new methods of consumption.
EU Internal Affairs Commissioner Magnus Brunner described the findings as “an alarming picture”, saying that cocaine is “more available today than ever before”.
“Our analysis estimates that 2.5 million young adults used cocaine in the last year,” said EUDA Executive Director Dr Lorraine Nolan.
The report highlights a growing death toll from drug use, with at least 7,600 overdose deaths reported in 2024. Opioids remain the leading cause of fatal overdoses, although deaths increasingly involve multiple substances.
Another trend that is raising concern is the rapid growth in ketamine use. Nolan said treatment admissions linked to ketamine have “quadrupled in recent years”, while awareness of its dangers remains low. “Frequent ketamine use can lead to dependency and severe bladder damage,” she warned.
The agency raised concerns about synthetic cannabinoids and opioids appearing in vaping devices and edible products. “Drug markets are evolving at speed,” she said.
Cannabis remains Europe’s most-used illicit drug, with growing imports of high-potency herbal cannabis from Canada and the United States.
Catherine Feore
Smoke Free Partnership accuses tobacco lobby of ‘dirty tricks’ in EU consultation
The Smoke Free Partnership has accused the tobacco industry of mounting a coordinated campaign to influence the European Commission’s consultation on the revision of the Tobacco Products Directive and Tobacco Advertising Directive.
The Commission opened feedback on the tobacco rules on 18 May, with the call for evidence running until 15 June.
Catherine Feore
The Smoke Free Partnership says that the consultation had already received more than 39,000 responses and over 1,300 questionnaire responses, alleging that “a significant share” appeared to have been driven by industry-linked campaigns.
Smoke Free Partnership cited banners outside Philip Morris International IQOS stores that direct customers to the Commission consultation via QR codes, as well as AI tools promoted by industry actors to generate ready-made submissions.
“Public consultations and calls for feedback are a legitimate and essential part of democratic decision-making,” the organisation said. “However, the scale and nature of the industry’s mobilisation efforts risk undermining the integrity of this process and distorting the evidence base on which public health policies should be built.”
Director of the Smoke Free Partnership, Erin Roman, said: “The European Commission’s consultations are designed to gather meaningful feedback and support evidence-based policymaking. Coordinated industry campaigns that conveniently amplify particular viewpoints threaten the integrity of this process.”
Roman added that these practices are fundamentally at odds with Article 5.3 of the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC), which requires governments to protect public health policies from the tobacco industry's interests.
EU commits further €16.5 million for Ebola outbreak
The European Commission has announced an additional €16.5 million in support to help contain the Ebola outbreak in Africa, reinforcing efforts to strengthen surveillance, diagnostics, and emergency response capacity.
“Health security is a shared responsibility: viruses do not stop at borders; they do not care about politics,” said Crisis Management Commissioner Hadja Lahbib. “Europe will continue to stand with Africa CDC, with WHO, and with the communities on the front line of this outbreak.”
The funding package includes €6.5 million for the Africa Pathogen Genomics Initiative to equip frontline teams, train healthcare workers, and improve disease monitoring. A further €5 million will support the World Health Organization’s response, enhancing surveillance systems and access to essential supplies such as personal protective equipment. The EU will also provide €5 million worth of testing equipment, including rapid diagnostic devices and laboratory test kits.
The new funding comes in addition to €15 million allocated in May for Ebola response efforts in the DRC and Uganda.