"In Germany, more than a quarter of the adult population have used illicit drugs during their lifetime, while fewer than 1 in 10 have done so in the last 12 months; of these, about half have used illicit drugs in the last 30 days.
"Data on drug use among the adult population are available from the Epidemiological Survey of Substance Abuse (ESA). The Drug Affinity Study (DAS) provides data on the use of licit and illicit substances among adolescents and young people aged 12-25 years. The 2015 studies found that cannabis remained the most common illicit drug in Germany among both adults and adolescents. In general, consumption of illicit drugs is more common among males than females and remains higher among young adults, in particular those aged 18-25 years.
"The most recent ESA results indicate a slight rise in cannabis use among young adults. DAS data for the same time frame (2012–15) also indicate a slight rise in cannabis use among adolescents and young people, although prevalence declined slightly between 2014 and 2015.
"In 2015, for the first time, amphetamine was reported as the most common stimulant used by German adults in the last 12 months, followed by cocaine and MDMA/ecstasy. About 2.8 % of adults in Germany had used some kind of new psychoactive substance (NPS), while about 2.2 % of young adults (aged 18-25 years) indicated use of these substances in the past.
"A number of German cities participate in the Europe-wide annual wastewater campaigns undertaken by the Sewage Analysis Core Group Europe (SCORE). This study provides data on drug use at a municipal level, based on the levels of illicit drugs and their metabolites found in wastewater. In 2018, the study reported an increase in cocaine and MDMA levels in wastewater in almost all the cities for which data for several years were available. Cocaine and MDMA concentrations were higher at the weekends. Methamphetamine metabolites were found in the wastewater of cities in eastern Germany. In contrast, cocaine use was concentrated in Berlin and Dortmund."
European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (2019), Germany, Country Drug Report 2019, Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg.
