European Web Survey on Drugs 2024: top-level findings, Western Balkans
Introduction
This data factsheet presents insights from the European Web Survey on Drugs 2024. It provides an overview of key data from 4 442 individuals aged 18 or older who use drugs and live in the Western Balkans (Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Serbia). The survey was conducted across 24 EU and 11 non-EU countries between May and July 2024.
Kosovo*: this designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Click here for more information on the methodology of the European Web Survey on Drugs.
Last update: 25 February 2025
In summary
A total of 4 442 respondents participated from Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia. Analysis of respondents' answers revealed these key findings on their drug use in the past 12 months.
- Cannabis was the most commonly used drug over the previous 12 months (42 %), followed by benzodiazepines without prescription (22 %), and cocaine (21 %).
- Less than 3 % of respondents reported receiving treatment to manage or quit using any drug.
- Polysubstance use was the most commonly reported pattern for all drugs in respondents' last consumption. Cocaine powder and crack cocaine were the most frequently consumed drugs alongside at least one other substance, including tobacco and alcohol.
- To get 'high'/for fun and to relax were the most commonly reported reasons for using drugs.
- Home was the most frequently mentioned setting for drug use.
Drug use and treatment received in the last 12 months
The most commonly used drug over the past 12 months was cannabis, with 42 % of respondents reporting its use. This was followed by benzodiazepines without prescription, used by 22 % of respondents, and cocaine, used by 21 % of respondents.
A smaller percentage of respondents used MDMA/Ecstasy (14 %) and amphetamine (12 %) in the last 12 months.
Fewer than 3 % of the respondents indicated receiving treatment to manage or quit using a specific drug in the last 12 months. In particular, the drug for which the highest proportion of respondents sought treatment was cannabis (2 %), followed by cocaine (1.5 %) and heroin and other opioids (1.4 %).
GHB/GBL: gamma-hydroxybutyric acid/gamma-butyrolactone
NPS: new psychoactive substances
Polysubstance use in the last 12 months
Polysubstance use, the use of two or more substances in the same occasion, was reported across all drugs. Cocaine powder and crack cocaine were the drugs most frequently consumed alongside at least one other substance. Only 3 % of respondents indicated using them with no other substance during the last use, including tobacco and alcohol. On the other hand, cannabis and ketamine had the lowest proportion of polysubstance consumption pattern among drugs. A quarter of respondents answered that the last time they used cannabis and/or ketamine they did not use any other substances.
Motivation for drug use in the last 12 months
Around 84 % of the respondents who used MDMA/ecstasy specified they use the drug to get ‘high’/for fun. Over half of the respondents using cocaine powder, amphetamine, ketamine and/or crack cocaine also noted that they use these substances for these motivations.
More than 65 % of those who used cannabis indicated that they use these substances to reduce stress or to relax. Additionally, 47 % of those who used new psychoactive substances (NPS) and/or heroin also reported the same reasons. Notably, around half of those who used heroin also disclosed that they use it due to dependence.
Setting for drug use in the last 12 months
While home was the most common setting for the use of most drugs during the previous 12 months, the preferred setting for MDMA use was at music festivals or parties (81 %) and cocaine powder was most commonly used at bars or clubs (71 %).
Patterns of use and sources of acquisition
GHB/GBL: gamma-hydroxybutyric acid/gamma-butyrolactone
NPS: new psychoactive substances
Notes
- The analysis here covers Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina, Kosovo*, Montenegro, North Macedonia and Serbia as part of the EUDA IPA8 project.
- The analysis was also conducted in 24 EU countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czechia, Denmark, Estonia, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, The Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, as well as Norway and Switzerland.
- In addition, the web survey was carried out in Ukraine, Lebanon and Palestine* as part of the EUDA-EU4MD project.
Kosovo*: This designation is without prejudice to positions on status, and is in line with UNSCR 1244/1999 and the ICJ Opinion on the Kosovo declaration of independence.
Palestine*: This designation shall not be construed as recognition of a State of Palestine and is without prejudice to the individual positions of the Member States on this issue.
While web surveys are not representative of the general population, when 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. As such, they are a key ingredient in the EUDA's responsiveness to an ever-shifting drugs problem.
For more detailed information on the project, please see our dedicated page on the European Web Survey on Drugs.
Related resources
- European Web Survey on Drugs 2024 landing page
- European Web Survey on Drugs 2024: top level findings, 24 EU countries and Norway
- European Web Survey on Drugs (EWSD) 2024: methodology
- European Web Survey on Drugs topic hub page (outputs, news, etc.)
- European Web Survey on Drugs project page
Recommended citation
Recommended citation: European Union Drugs Agency (2025), European Web Survey on Drugs 2024: top-level findings, Western Balkans, https://www.euda.europa.eu/publications/data-factsheet/european-web-survey-drugs-2024-top-level-findings-western-balkans_en
Source data
The complete set of source data for the European Web Survey on Drugs 2024: top level findings, including any additional metadata and methodological notes is available in our data catalogue.
| Term | Rank |
|---|---|
| To get high/for fun | 5 |
| To reduce stress/relax | 10 |
| To manage depression/anxiety | 30 |
| To socialize | 40 |
| To enhance sexual pleasure or performance | 70 |
| Out of curiosity/to experiment | 100 |
| Other | 1000 |
| To stay awake | -1 |
| To reduce the effect of alcohol | 130 |
| To enhance performance (school/work/sport/dance, etc.) | 140 |
| To reduce pain | 150 |
| To improve sleep | 200 |
| To enhance performance (school/work/sport/etc.) | 205 |
| To reduce pain/inflammations | 210 |
| Due to dependence | 220 |
| For spiritual reasons | -1 |
| Because it’s easily available | -1 |
| Because it’s cheap | -1 |
| Because it's legal | -1 |
| Because my usual drug of choice was not available | -1 |
| To treat a health issue or manage symptoms | -1 |
| To stay awake/get more energy | -1 |
| Original name | Simpler name |
|---|---|
| Other opioids (such as methadone, buprenorphine) | Other opioids |
| Synthetic cannabinoids (e.g., Spice) | Synthetic cannabinoids |
| Other hallucinogens (such as DMT, 2CB) | Other hallucinogens |
| ‘Tuci’/’Tucibi’/’Pink cocaine’ (pink powder mixture often containing many different drugs) | Tuci/Tucibi/Pink cocaine |
| Tobacco/nicotine | Tobacco/nicotine |
| Alcohol | Alcohol |
| None | None |
| Cocaine powder | Cocaine powder |
| MDMA/Ecstasy | MDMA/Ecstasy |
| Amphetamine | Amphetamine |
| Magic mushrooms | Magic mushrooms |
| Benzodiazepines | Benzodiazepines |
| LSD | LSD |
| Crack cocaine | Crack cocaine |
| Methamphetamine | Methamphetamine |
| Heroin | Heroin |
| Ketamine | Ketamine |
| Herbal cannabis | Herbal cannabis |
| Cannabis resin | Cannabis resin |
| GHB/GBL | GHB/GBL |
| Other drugs | Other drugs |
| Nitrous oxide | Nitrous oxide |
| Synthetic cathinones (e.g., mephedrone, 3-CMC) | Synthetic cathinones |
| Kratom | Kratom |