"Studies reporting estimates of high-risk drug use can help to identify the extent of the more entrenched drug use problems, while data on first-time entrants to specialised drug treatment centres, when considered alongside other indicators, can inform an understanding of the nature of and trends in high-risk drug use.
"It is estimated that there were 33,290 high-risk opioid users in Portugal in 2015, which is about 5.2 per 1,000 of the adult population. In the same year, the number of people who inject drugs was estimated at 13,160 (2 per 1,000 people aged 15-64).
"The Cannabis Abuse Screening Test included in the 2016/17 general population survey suggested that about 0.7 % of 15- to 64-year-olds could be considered high-risk cannabis users.
"Data from specialised treatment centres show that the first-time treatment demands attributable to heroin use have declined since 2009. In contrast, first-time treatment entries resulting from the primary use of cannabis increased until 2016 and have since stabilised. Following a period of stability in cocaine-related first-time treatment demands, an increase has been noted in the past few years. In general, males accounted for the majority of treatment entrants."
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2019), Portugal: Country Drug Report 2019, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
