European Web Survey on Drugs 2021: Emerging findings in Ukraine

Introduction

The European Web Survey on Drugs1 collected data during March and May 2021 from people who use drugs, are aged 18 or older, and live in the 21 EU and 9 non-EU countries including Ukraine. In this period, the populations in many European and neighbouring countries were experiencing COVID-19-related lockdown or restrictions. Unless otherwise indicated, the data presented here refer to 866 respondents who reported having used at least one illicit drug in the 12 months prior to the survey (last 12 months of use) and live in Ukraine.

In summary

  • Most survey respondents (93 %) reported using cannabis during the previous 12 months. A total of 59 % had used MDMA/ecstasy, 51 % had used amphetamine, 37 % new psychoactive substances (NPS) and 36 % LSD.
  • The most commonly reported motivations for cannabis use were relaxation, getting high and treating anxiety.
  • Home was reported as the most common setting for drug use during the period.
  • The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and national measures was reported to be greatest on the use of herbal cannabis (increased consumption) and heroin (decreased consumption).
  • A considerable proportion of respondents (15 %) reported having used opioids other than heroin. Among these, pharmaceutical medicines containing opioids were the most common (91 %), followed by powdered opioids obtained from illicit sources (43 %) and homemade preparations containing opioids (32 %).

Drug use patterns

Most survey respondents (93 %) reported that they had used cannabis during the previous 12 months. MDMA/ecstasy and amphetamine were the next most reported illicit substances. More than a third of the sample reported using NPS (37 %) or LSD (36 %) in the last year, while 21 % reported use of cocaine and 20 % use of methamphetamine during the period. Use of opioids other than heroin was reported by 15 % of respondents. Ketamine use was reported by 14 % and heroin use by 4 % of respondents.

Figure 1. Last year prevalence (n = 866)

The source data for this graphic are available in Table 1 on this page.

Motivation for drug use

The motivations to use particular drugs often reflect the effects users expect when they use them. The survey responses suggest herbal cannabis is taken for its calming and euphoric effects, specifically to reduce stress and relax, to get high or for fun, and to treat depression/anxiety. The motivations reported for MDMA use were getting high and for fun.

Figure 2a. Motivation for (herbal) cannabis use in the last year (n = 553)

The source data for this graphic are available in Table 2a on this page.

Figure 2b. The Motivation for ecstasy/MDMA use in the last 12 months (n = 332)

The source data for this graphic are available in Table 2b on this page.

Settings for drug use

By far the most commonly reported setting for drug use in the last 12 months was the home, which was mentioned by 89 % of the respondents. Home use would be expected to be predominant. This pattern may have been accentuated by the reduced mobility resulting from COVID-19 lockdowns.

Figure 3. Settings for drug use in the last 12 months (n = 866)

The source data for this graphic are available in Table 3 on this page.

Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on drug use

Respondents reported mixed experiences when they were asked about the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on their use of illicit drugs. Herbal cannabis is reported to have been used more, while heroin and MDMA were used less.

Figure 4. Has the COVID-19 pandemic had any impact on your drug use?

The source data for this graphic are available in Table 4 on this page.

Country-specific finding: Use of opioids other than heroin

In addition to standard items included in the EMCDDA’s Web Survey on Drugs tool, all European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) countries that implemented the survey had the opportunity to add a country-specific question. In Ukraine, a question was included on respondents’ use of opioids other than heroin. In the Ukraine survey, use of opioids other than heroin during the previous 12 months was reported by 127 people or 15 % of respondents. By far the most commonly reported were pharmaceutical medicines containing opioids (e.g. pharmaceutical methadone in pills/syrup, buprenorphine and morphine in pills/ampoules).

Figure 5. Use of opioids other than heroin in the last 12 months (n = 127)

The source data for this graphic are available in Table 5 on this page.

Notes

(1) The analysis here covers Ukraine, where the web survey was carried out as part of the EU4Monitoring Drugs (EU4MD) project, funded by the European Union. While web surveys are not representative of the general population, when they are carefully conducted and combined with traditional data collection methods they can help paint a more detailed, realistic and timely picture of drug use and drug markets in Europe and the European neighbourhood. As such, they are a key ingredient in the EMCDDA’s responsiveness to an ever-shifting drugs problem.

For more detailed information on the project, please see our webpage on the European Web Survey on Drugs.

The European Web Survey on Drugs in Ukraine was implemented by the Institute of Psychoactive Substances at the Alliance for Public Health in the framework of the EU4Monitoring Drugs project, financed by the European Union. This document was produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union.

Source data

Below you can find the source data tables used for the graphics on this page.

Table 1. Last year prevalence (n = 866)
  % of respondents
Cannabis 93
Alcohol 92
Tobacco 89
MDMA/ecstasy 59
Amphetamine 51
NPS 37
LSD 36
Cocaine 21
Methaphetamine 20
Opiods other than heroine 15
Ketamine 14
Heroin 4
Table 2a. Motivation for herbal cannabis use in the last 12 months (n = 553)
  % of respondents

To reduce
stress/relax

 79
To get high/for fun 66
To treat depression
/anxiety		 51
To improve sleep 49
To socialise 30
To reduce
pain/inflammation		 27
Out of curiosity
/to experiment		 17
To enhance performance
(school, work, sport, etc.)		 15
Other 1
Table 2b. Motivation for MDMA/ecstasy use in the last 12 months (n = 332)
  % of respondents
To get high/for fun 85
To socialise 35
To reduce
stress/relax		 30
Out of curiosity
/to experiment		 23
To treat depression
/anxiety		 19
Other 4
To enhance performance
(school, work, sport, etc.)		 2
To imrove sleep 2
To reduce pain
/inflammation		 2
Table 3. Settings for drug use in last 12 months (n = 866)
Setting % of respondents
Home 89
Music festival or party 50
Public space (street, park, etc.) 49
Club or bar 44
Work 25
Other 22
School/university/training facility 9
Table 4. Has the COVID-19 pandemic had any impact on your drug use? (% of respondents)
Substance I use less I use the same I use more Don't know/No answer
Heroin 29 41 12 18
Ecstacy/MDMA 25 55 8 12
Amphetamine 16 55 14 15
Methamphetamine 15 56 13 16
NPS 14 54 15 17
Cannabis resin 10 64 18 8
Cocaine powder 10 69 8 13
Herbal cannabis 10 56 27 7
Table 5. Use of opioids other than heroin in the last 12 months (n = 127)
  % of respondents
Pharmaceutical
medicines containing opioids		 91
‘Street’ synthetic opiates/opioids 43
Homemade
opiates/opioids		 32
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