Most overdose deaths in Cyprus are linked to cocaine

The National Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EKTEPN) has presented a new annual report showing that cocaine has become the main cause of drug-related deaths in Cyprus. It accounts for more than half of all recorded overdose fatalities, putting the substance in first place ahead of opioids.
Experts note a sharp increase in cocaine availability on the domestic market, as well as a significant drop in its price in recent years, which has directly affected rising consumption levels. A particular concern for experts is the growing trend of “polydrug use” — the simultaneous use of cocaine with alcohol or prescription drugs, which multiplies the toxic effect and leads to cardiac arrest. The EKTEPN report emphasizes the need for an urgent review of national prevention programmes and an expansion of the rehabilitation centre network to combat this threat.