Substance dependence

There has been little or no progress on reducing alcohol consumption and harms in Europe, according to the World Health Organization. Based on the latest available data from 2019, the WHO European Region, covering 53 Member States across Europe and Central Asia, has the unfortunate distinction of consuming the highest amount of alcohol per capita in the world.  

Istanbul Governor's Office has clarified that the recently issued circular pertaining to the sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages in public areas is not a novel directive but rather a reminder of existing regulations.

“The interim measures should be extended for as long as necessary in order to avoid the consequences of their abrupt withdrawal”

Smartphone addiction has become an issue of serious concern for all age groups, but the addiction of children towards these phones is seen as a dangerous trend by researchers. Smartphone addiction is not less harmful than alcoholism or drug abuse. During the on ongoing COVID-19 pandemic this addition has increased manifold.

Fourteen people were arrested as members of a suspected criminal network smuggling large quantities of alcohol from Bulgaria and reselling it in Greece, police said Saturday.

A supervised drug consumption site where people will be able to use narcotics with sterile injection equipment under the supervision of trained staff is to start operating in central Athens in the coming days. 

The typical profile of individuals who sought treatment at the Therapy Center for Dependent Individuals' (KETHEA) units last year was Greek, male, aged 31 and suffering from a drug addiction for more than 10 years.

In the last year, young Bulgarians have used cannabis most often, but heroin sends most people to clinics. This is shown in the annual report of the European Monitoring Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, BNT reported.

A new report points to an increase in the use of cannabis in Greece along with a significant decrease in that of heroin and other opioids.

It took Greece nine years to restore its creditworthiness and issue a new 10-year bond. This is happening now, not just because the country's economic indexes have improved - they had already improved significantly even before the relapse that occurred in 2015.