Report shows significant rise in number of overdose deaths in Lithuania

An estimated 8,441 deaths occurred in Europe and Turkey in 2015, up by 6 percent from 7,950 in 2014, according to the European Drug Report 2017.

Increases in overdose death numbers in 2015 were reported in Germany, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Sweden, the United Kingdom and Turkey.

Heroin and other opioids are present in the majority of fatal overdoses reported in Europe, the EMCDDA said.

The report shows that the number of drug-induced deaths in Lithuania rose to 115 in 2015, from around 80 in 2014 and some 50 in 2013. Most of the victims in 2015 were male and the average age at death was 35 years.

“Apparently, this has something to do with the substances, opiods, which, as far as I know, are used in veterinary medicine. They are particularly strong. There have been cases of poising and deaths in the tabor (Roma settlement in Vilnius). Apparently, this is one reason,” Lithuanian Health Minister Aurelijus Veryga told BNS, commenting on the situation.

“Based on what I have heard from toxicologists, another reason is deaths from synthetic cannabinoids, which are smuggled into Lithuania and distributed here. The nature of drugs is changing and the deaths probably have something to do with that,” he said.

The minister added that the increased number of fatalities does not necessarily show an increase in the number of drug consumers, noting that some deaths probably occurred when trying new substances.

The report shows that cannabis is the most commonly used illegal drug in Lithuania. Some 5.1 percent of Lithuanians aged between 15 and 34 years reportedly used cannabis at least once in a year, compared with 0.3 percent for amphetamines and 0.3 percent for cocaine. Admittedly, the figures are based on surveys carried out in 2012.