According to the Annual Report 2004: The State of the Drug Problem in the European Union and Norway from the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction in Lisbon, drug-related deaths in the European Union declined between 2000-2003 after reaching a peak of 8,838 in 2000.

A drop in drug-related deaths was noted in Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, and Portugal.

The report also said that heroin use has stabilized in many European countries, and that the HIV epidemic among injecting-drug users in central and eastern Europe is on the decline.

The report credited measures to reduce drug-related harm, as well as better access to treatment, for the decline in drug-related deaths.

But Georges Estievenart, director of the European Union's drug agency, warned:
"We should not forget that drug use in general remains at historically high levels. Many countries are reporting rising cocaine use, and more people are using cannabis and ecstasy in parts of Europe."

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