Shocking Study Reveals Lisbon Among Europe's Highest MDMA Consumers!

Lisbon's MDMA Consumption on the Rise

Portugal has been identified as one of the top four countries in Europe where MDMA, commonly known as ecstasy, is increasingly popular. This alarming trend comes from the latest report by the European Union Drugs Agency (EUDA), which was presented on Wednesday, the 19th.

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According to the Wastewater analysis and drugs – a European multi-city study, Lisbon ranks among the ten European cities with the highest per capita consumption of MDMA. The study, which has been conducted annually since 2011 by the SCORE group, revealed significant concentrations of this synthetic substance in wastewater samples.

Key Findings from the Study

• Significant MDMA Presence: Alongside Belgium, the Czech Republic, and the Netherlands, Portugal showcases some of the highest MDMA levels detected in wastewater.
• Wider Trends: The analysis, conducted between March and May 2024 across 24 EU countries plus Norway and Turkey, indicates a general increase in MDMA consumption compared to 2023. Water samples from 128 cities, including Porto and Almada, were tested for various drugs including cocaine, ketamine, amphetamines, methamphetamines, and cannabis.
• Cocaine and Amphetamines: The study also noted an increase in cocaine and amphetamine consumption across most cities, while traces of ketamine and methamphetamines remained stable.

Cannabis Trends

In contrast, cannabis usage is declining in most cities, but Lisbon and Almada are exceptions, where consumption rates have increased, placing Portugal again among the top four countries for cannabis use, alongside Spain, the Netherlands, and Norway.

The EUDA aims to track weekly drug consumption patterns. The data shows that in more than three-quarters of the locations surveyed, the amounts of cocaine, ketamine, and MDMA peak on weekends, whereas cannabis and amphetamine usage remains relatively constant throughout the week.