International - Spain

Basic Data

(Prevalence of Drug Use) "In 2009, the psychoactive substances most widespread among Spain's population within the 15-64 age range were alcohol and tobacco. Among the drugs illegally sold, the most widespread were cannabis and cocaine, with prevalences over the last 12 months of over 2% (10.6% for cannabis; 2.6% for cocaine) and ecstasy with a prevalence of 0.8% over the last 12 months. The consumptions of other illegally sold drugs showed lower prevalences of use. The prevalence of use of prescription or non-prescription tranquilizers (5.5%) and sleeping pills (3.6%) over the past 12 months was surpassed only by alcohol, tobacco and cannabis (Tables 2.1 to 2.4)."

(Age of First Use) "In 2009, the average age at which use of the different substances was first started remained stable in comparison to the previous years, although it did vary substantially according to the type of drug. The drugs which were consumed, on the average, at an earlier age were those legally sold, such as tobacco (average age 16.5 years) and alcoholic beverages (16.7 years). The illegal drug which began being used at an earlier age was cannabis (18.6 years). To the contrary, those which began being used later were the hypnosedatives (tranquilizers and/or sleeping pills), at age 34.5. The use of the rest of the drugs was begun on the average between 19 and 22 years of age (Table 2.5) (Figure 2.1)."

(Prevalence of Cannabis Use) "Cannabis continues to be the illegal drug most consumed in Spain and that which had undergone the greatest increase in its prevalence since 2007. A total of 32.1% of Spain's population states having tried it some time in their lives, 10.6% having done do within the last 12 months, 7.6% within the last 30 days and 2% daily throughout the last 30 days. Despite the highest prevalence of experimental use (ever in lifetime) since a record started being kept having been reached in 2009, the prevalences of all other indicators recorded (except the increases mentioned in comparison to 2007) are remaining relatively stable since 2003.
"Use was quite a bit more widespread among males than among females in all age groups and for all the use periods.
"The relative differences between genders in cannabis use are quite high for both the use within the last 12 months (14.8% males and 6.2% females) as well as for monthly use (11% males and 4% females) and daily use (3.2% males and 0.9% females).
"The highest percentages of cannabis consumers fall within the group of the youngest consumers (ages 15-24), above all among the males (Figure 2.8)."

(Age of First Cannabis Use and Continuation Rate) "The age at which cannabis is consumed for the first time was 18.6 years of age, which is quite similar to the age in previous years (18.6 in 2007 and 18.3 in 2005).
"The continuity of cannabis use is not high. In 2009, around one third of those who had tried this drug some time in their lives had also consumed it within the last 12 months, and approximately one fourth had consumed it within the last 30 days. As can be seen by noting the parallelism of the prevalence figures in the different periods, the continuity in use has remained relatively stable as of 1997 (Table 2.15)."

(Prevalence of Cocaine Use) "Cocaine is the second illegal psychoactive substance of greatest prevalence use in Spain: 10.2% of the resident population 15-64 years of age has tried it some time in their lives, 2.6% having done so within the last 12 months and 1.2% within the last 30 days.
"In regard to the time-related trends, the prevalence of powdered cocaine showed an increase from 1995 to 2005, the percentage of consumers within the last 12 months having risen from 1.8% to 3.0%, respectively, having stabilized at around this figure. Since then, it has shown a drop to the point of reaching 2.6% (Figure 2.10)."

(Prevalence of Crack Use) "Crack use shows a similar panorama. Even with the lower prevalence of use, the evolution over the course of time shows a progressive rise from 1995 to 2007, the year in which this trend reverses, showing a clear drop in 2009, the percentage of consumers within the last 12 months dropping from 0.5% to 0.1% (Figure 2.11)."

(Prevalence of Ecstasy Use) "A total of 4.9% of the population within the 15-64 age range has tried Ecstasy some time in their lives, 0.8% having consumed it within the last 12 months and 0.4% within
the last 30 days.
"The prevalence of use within the last 12 months was greater among the males (1.4%) than among the females (0.3%), and among the population within the 15-34 age group (1.8%) than among the older-aged population (0.2%) The highest use prevalences were found among the males within the 15-24 age group (Figure 2.14).
"This is a drug consumed very sporadically. In fact, no daily consumers are to be found in this sample. The average age of initial use was 20.5 years of age, which is older than the average age at which use first begins of substances such as tobacco, alcohol, cannabis, hallucinogens or amphetamines."

(Prevalence of Alcohol Use) "The alcohol use in Spanish society is practically universal. Thus, in 2009, a total of 94.2% of the population within the 15-64 age range had consumed alcohol at some time during their lives, 78.7% having admitted to having consumed it during the year immediately prior to being surveyed, 63.3% having done so some time during the month immediately prior to the survey, although solely 11.0% had consumed alcohol daily during that same period.
"As far as the time-related trends are concerned, up to 2005, a stability was found to exist in the prevalence of alcoholic beverage consumption both on a sporadic basis (some time during their lives), regular (past year) and recent (last 30 days), which broke off slightly in 2007, starting an overall drop in all the indicators which seems to have gone back up slightly in 2009, except for the prevalence of daily use, which has remained stable in comparison to 2005. Nevertheless, the prevalences found in 2009 (with the exception of consumptions at some time in one's life) currently remain at levels quite similar to those found for prior editions of the survey (2005, 2003, 2001 and 1999), as a result of which it will be necessary to await new data to confirm these trends."

(Prevalence of Drunkenness and Alcohol Poisoning) "With regard to the cases of alcohol poisoning, 23.1% of the population within the 15-64 age range had experienced episodes of drunkenness some time within the past year (18.4% less than 10 times a year and 4.7% having done so 10 or more times during the year). The prevalence of episodes of drunkenness was higher among the males (30.0%) than among the females (15.5%) and among the younger ones within the 15-34 age range (35.2%) than among the older ones within that age group (15.0%). Thus, there has been an almost 4 percentage point rise over 2007 in the percentage of consumers who get drunk, and although the male/female ratio has not changed much (around 2 in both 2007 and 2009), the ratio of the prevalences by age group have indeed undergone a change (15-34 years/ 35-64 years), dropping from around 4 in 2007 to 3 in 2009, thus meaning these two age groups becoming more similar to one another in this type of intensive use."

(Prevalence of Tobacco Use) "In 2009, a total of 42.8% of the population within the 15-64 age range residing in Spain had smoked tobacco over the past 12 months; 39.4% within the last 30 days and 31.8% daily throughout that period. These figures indicate a certain stabilisation of the use during the 2005-2009 period, with drug use levels currently quite similar to those found immediately prior to the national regulation governing smoking entered into effect in December 2005, but lower than the drug use levels (1997-2003) prior to the social debate to which the anti-smoking bill gave rise in Spain.
"The prevalence of daily use was higher among males than among females (36.2% and 27.2%). By age groups, the highest prevalence was among the males within the 45-54 age group (42.6%), the females ages 55-64 being those having the lowest (13%). Among the youngest age group (ages 15-24), the differences between genders were smaller (29% males and 25.9% females) (Figure 2.3). Among the adolescents ages 15-18, a total of 20.7% of the males and 17.6% of the females smoked daily."

(Prevalence of Problem Heroin and Cocaine Use) "As far as the prevalence of problem heroin and cocaine use is concerned (the new and already existing users added together until they cease to be users) the estimates indicate that the total number of problem heroin users (prevalence) reached its highpoint in Spain in the early nineties, with over 150,000 users, this number having subsequently dropped. The latest estimates of problem use of these drugs published to date are from 2002 and were made employing the treatment-multiplying method and the demographic method, having situated the figure of problem heroin users within the 70,000-120,000 range, and the problem cocaine users within the 120,000-170,000 range. Afterward, further estimates have been tried using different sources of information, but have come up against the same difficulties."

(Estimated Prevalence of Injection Drug Use Based on Number of Users Admitted to Treatment) "As far as the estimate of the number of intravenous drug users is concerned, in the 2007 EDADES household survey on drugs, valid answers were obtained from 1,407 nominated drug users, a total of 605 (43%) of whom had started treatment for drug abuse or dependence, according to those interviewed, which, applied to the 3,763 intravenous drug users (intravenous use within the 12 months immediately prior to admission to treatment) who had been admitted to treatment in Spain in 2009 lead to an estimate of (3,763/0.43) 8,751 recent intravenous drug users in 2009, who would not be in OMT. If the 5,291 intravenous drug users who were in OMT in 2009 are added (assuming that 40% of this population has used heroin in the last 12 months, and that 17% of these same people have used the intravenous route), the estimate would be of at least (77,811 X 40% who have used heroin in the last 12 months=31,124 and that 17% of them had used the intravenous route 31,124 X 17%= 5291) 14,042 (8,751 + 5,291) recent intravenous drug users (in the last 12 months)."

(Alternate Estimate of Prevalence of Injection Drug Use) "When, instead of taking the number of intravenous users admitted to treatment, the estimated number of intravenous users who underwent some treatment for drug abuse or dependence in 2009 was used (7,369 individuals, taken from number of drug users for which care was provided at outpatient clinics in 2009= 93,283, multiplied by 7.9%, which is the percentage of those admitted to treatment in 2009 who used drugs intravenously in the last 12 months), an estimate was calculated (7,639/0.43= 17,765) of 26,516 (8,751 + 17,765) recent intravenous drug users. The figures thus calculated, compared to those found for 2008 (28,335) (2010 Spanish National Report), show a 6.4% decline, which is in line with the lesser number of individuals admitted to treatment for heroin in 2009 and with the overall drop, generally speaking, of the intravenous route being used for drug use."

(Definition and Prevalence of Problem Cocaine Use) "As a starting point, within the context of the information available in 2009 EDADES household survey on drugs, we consider a problem user to be that user who says they have used cocaine on 30 days or more within the last year and/or on 10 days or more within the last month. In 2009, according to the EDADES survey, there were 126,522 cocaine users in Spain who had used cocaine on 30 or more days within the last year and 33,406 individuals who had used cocaine on 10 days or more within the last month, a total of 29,519 of whom met both of these requirements (use on 30 days or more within the last year and use on 10 or more days within the last month) must be ruled out so as to avoid counting the same twice. The total estimated number of problem cocaine consumers would be 130,409."

(Alternate Definition and Estimate of Prevalence of Problem Cocaine Use) "In addition to the length of time of continual use and from the Public Health point of view, it also seems important to take into consideration the uses at the youngest ages. Hence, a parallel estimate was made, considering a problem consumer to be those age 20 (approximate age by which the CNS has completely matured) or younger who had used cocaine on 10 or more days within the last year and on at least 1‐3 days within the last month, which, in EDADES, totaled 14,544 individuals, representing 17.4% of the cocaine users (12 months) within this age range.
"One must add to the above those users above 20 years of age who used cocaine on 30 or more days within the last year and/or on 10 or more days within the last month (125,981), theoretically assuming that those who, on being old enough, had fully matured in psychophysical terms, would be less susceptible than the younger individuals to sustain harm as a result of cocaine use at the same frequencies of use. According to this hypothesis, in 2009, a total of 140,525 (14,544+125,981) were recorded."

(Estimated Number of Injection Drug Users) "Once again, it must be said that this type of surveys are not a very suitable means of estimating how widespread the drug injection phenomenon maybe. It is however known, by way of other indicators, that this is a rapidly regressing phenomenon. The results of this survey indicate that, in 2009, a total of 0.2% of Spain's population within the 15-64 age range have injected heroin or cocaine (0.5% males and 0.1% females) at some time in their lives, the highest prevalence being found among the 45-54 age group (0.3%)."

(Prevalence of AIDS and New Cases by Transmission Method) "According to the National Epidemiology Center, since 1981, the year of the outbreak of this epidemic, up to June 30, 2010, a total of 79,363 AIDS cases had been reported in Spain.
"Evolution over the course of time: The percentage of AIDS cases which can be attributed to intravenous drug use has dropped over the last few years following the highpoint recorded in 1990 (69.6%), whilst the percentage of cases in the sexual transmission category has risen. The absolute number of new AIDS cases diagnosed which may be attributed to intravenous drug use has also dropped. This drop may be the result of several factors which have had a bearing of the course of this epidemic in recent years, one of the most noteworthy of which is the high degree to which methadone maintenance treatments are available and the sharp drop in the use of the intravenous route for heroin use.
"Current situation: In 2009, 1037 new AIDS cases were reported. The most frequent transmission route is the sexual route (heterosexual relations [34.7%] and homo/bisexual relations [23.3%]). The second most frequent transmission mechanism (32.1%) is due to the fact of sharing injection material for administering drugs intravenously. In 2009, the downward trend for this transmission route which began years ago is now confirmed among the group of intravenous drug users or ex‐users, given that a 19% drop has been found to have occurred from 2008 to 2009 in the number of cases diagnosed. Also for the same period, there has also been a decline in the number of the cases attributed to unprotected sexual relations among males (1%) and heterosexual transmission (11%)."

(Number Being Provided Opiate Substitution Treatment) "In the methadone maintenance programs, the number of persons for whom care was provided in 2009 totaled 77,811, meaning a drop from the 81,390 of 2008.
"Mention must also be made of the existing Buprenorphine treatments and the Buprenorphine/naloxone combination treatments, which have become progressively more widespread over the past few years. A total of around 500 patients can be estimated as having undergone these treatments by late 2009 or the beginning of 2010."

(Availability of Harm Reduction Programs and Resources) "Emergencies are prevented and the number of drug‐related deaths is reduced by way of the harm‐reduction programs and reSOURCEs described in following.
"The harm reduction programs in 2009 had 40 social emergency centers, 32 mobile units and 1,246 pharmacies with programs of this type.
"Apart from the above, eight safe injection or “venipuncture” facilities were operating in Catalonia (6), Madrid (1) and the Basque Country (1), having provided care for a total of 13,124 injecting drug users. On facilitating a safer use under the supervision of healthcare professionals, these facilities reduce the risks to the health of injecting users."

(Syringe Exchange Activity, 2009) "In turn, the syringe exchange programs have handed out around 3,263,324 syringes (although this figure is surely large, given that it is hard to keep a thorough record of this type of programs) by way of 1,222 exchange points."

(1999 - Spain - opiate use) "Data regarding use of heroin or opiates in Spain, provided by the National Door-to-door Survey on Drug Abuse, situate their prevalence levels in 1999, at 0.6% and 0.1% respectively, for the indicators 'at some time during their lives' and 'last month' among those members of the Spanish population who are aged over 15."

Laws & Policies

(Spanish National Drug Strategy) "A new Spanish National Drug Strategy (2009–16) was adopted in early 2009. The strategy, which is comprehensive and focuses on illicit drugs, alcohol and other substances, has five fields of action: demand reduction (prevention, risk reduction and harm reduction, treatment and social reintegration); supply reduction; improvement of basic and applied scientific knowledge; training; and international cooperation. Two specific chapters of the strategy are also devoted to its coordination and to its evaluation. The strategy has 14 objectives, including diminishing the use of legal and illegal drugs, to delay the age of initiation of contact with drugs, to guarantee quality assistance, adapted to the needs of all people affected by drug use, to reduce or limit the harm caused to drug users health and to facilitate their social integration.
"The first of two four-year action plans to implement the strategy was adopted in October 2009 covering the period through to the end of 2012. Containing the same fourteen objectives as the national strategy, the plan is organised into six areas: coordination; demand reduction; supply reduction; improvement of knowledge; training; and international cooperation. It includes 68 actions and those responsible for delivering them, as well as the indicators to be used for evaluation and the respective data sources. It is expected to evaluate the National Action Plan 2009–12, the evaluation plan was prepared in 2011.
"Spain also developed a specific action programme against cocaine 2007–10 which was structured around four main areas: coordination, demand reduction, international cooperation and supply control. By the programme’s conclusion at the end of 2010, 520 actions had been undertaken within its framework."

(Spanish Law and Punishments for Illicit Drugs) "The law on protection of citizens’ security (1992) considers drug consumption in public, as well as illicit possession, as a serious order offence punishable by administrative sanctions. In 2010, the Organic law enacted amendments to the penal code in reference to drug-related provisions. Fines are the usual punishment, but the law foresees that the execution of the fine can be suspended if the person freely attends an official drug treatment programme. For trafficking, the Spanish law lays down penalties in line with the seriousness of the health damages associated to drugs and any aggravating and mitigating circumstances that may exist such as sale to minors under 18, or the sale of large quantities. Penalties can reach up to 20 years and three months in prison, with such long terms reserved for cases with aggravating circumstances. When no such circumstances exist, those who have committed the crime can be sentenced to prison for one to three years if the drugs do not cause serious health damage, and, in line with the amendments enacted in 2010, for up to six years when they do. The new provision of the Penal Code leaves up to the courts possibility to impose sentences lesser degree in case of no aggravating circumstances exist and diversifies the applicable prison sentences for a conduct committed within criminal organisation based on the role of a person in a such entity. In all cases, a fine is also imposed.
"With regard to emerging new psychoactive substances, Ketamine was brought under control in Spain in 2010, but Mephedrone and Tapentadol in 2011. In 2011, a procedure was adopted allowing to classify new psychoactive substances as narcotic drugs at national level.

(Description of Harm Reduction Resources in Spain) "A brief description is provided in following of the characteristics of these resources:
"Social emergency centers: The main purpose of these centers is to take in the population of drug‐dependent individuals who have greater problems of social exclusion, to tend to their basic needs and to put this population in contact with other more demanding resources in the care‐providing network.
"Mobile units. Mobile units are generally multi‐purpose, open‐access vehicles, the main functions of which are: to perform treatments with opiate substitution treatments (methadone), take samples and conduct diagnostic tests and provide first‐aid.
"Pharmacies. Given the vast network of pharmacies in Spain, this is a highly useful resource when those affected by drug use can take recourse to a pharmacy.
"Safe injection rooms. Safe injection rooms, as they are also called, provide care and healthcare advice, sterile injection material and areas for self‐injection and personal hygiene. In no case is any type of illegal drug facilitated, nor is any illegal drug administered on the part of healthcare personnel manning the room."

(Spain - drug regulatory agencies) "The 2009-2016 National Strategy on Drugs (NSD) provides the overall framework, priorities, and direction for Spain‘s drug-related efforts. NSD implementation is done through two broad coordinating mechanisms – the Ministry of Interior‘s Intelligence Center against Organized Crime (CICO in Spanish), which coordinates supply reduction initiatives, and the Ministry of Health‘s National Program for Drugs (PNsD in Spanish), which leads demand reduction initiatives."

(Spain - decriminalization of personal use) In Spain since 1992, "possession for personal use of all drugs has not been subject to criminal prosecution. Nevertheless, when a person is caught in possession of a modest quantity of drugs and police have no further suspicions or evidence that more serious offences are involved, such as sale or traffic, the drug will be seized. The case will then be transmitted to the administrative authorities, so the person will receive a notification to attend a meeting with them. If found guilty of possession of drugs for person use, they will be charged with a fine ... especially if presenting signs of addiction, the person is invited to follow counseling or treatment."

(Spain - surveillance of drug trafficking) "Spain continued to upgrade and expand its Integrated External Surveillance System (Spanish acronym SIVE), adding further mobile units and opening a central command and control center in Madrid to improve SIVE coordination and communication. This high-tech system monitors the Mediterranean and Atlantic trafficking corridors for Spain with the objective of more efficient interdiction. The additional fixed radar sites previewed in the 2009 INCSR for Tarragona and Pontevedra did not become operational in 2010. Due to the investment and maintenance costs associated with fixed radar locations, the government is prioritizing mobile unit investments."