Although the number of drug users is proportionally lower than in most Western countries, in the early 1990s drug use of various kinds rose sharply, especially among unemployed urban youth. Deaths from drug overdoses increased steadily between the mid-1980s and the mid-1990s, and heroin use became a regular occurrence in urban schools and parks. Amphetamines and barbiturates are widely available. Marijuana is grown in many parts of Greece for local use, and a high quality of opium is also produced locally. The annual turnover for drugs has been estimated at over US$1.5 billion, and in the early 1990s evidence appeared that organized crime was becoming involved in domestic drug sales.

A sudden increase in the number of deaths from drug overdoses during 1994 (reportedly 290) has led to greater attention to the problem and to increased interagency cooperation in the government to curtail supply and to assist users through special counseling programs and clinics. Nevertheless, drug users are still treated predominantly as criminals, meaning that they often go to prison, where drugs are easily obtained, rather than receiving medical assistance. The issue of decriminalizing drug use has involved a continuing debate among ministries that have jurisdiction, political parties, youth organizations, medical associations, and interested social groups.

Data as of December 1994

NOTE: The information regarding Greece on this page is re-published from The Library of Congress Country Studies and the CIA World Factbook. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Greece Narcotics Abuse information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Greece Narcotics Abuse should be addressed to the Library of Congress and the CIA.