Young people in Lithuania are struggling with increasing rates of drug overdose, according to statistics and personal accounts. Around 100 young adults die each year from overdosing, primarily from injected opioids. The main reasons for drug use among youth are curiosity, a desire for relaxation and happiness, and a desire not to stand out from peers. One in 10 Lithuanian adults have used an illicit substance, and drug use is most concentrated in young people aged 15-34. Some experts worry that overdose cases may continue increasing if underlying reasons for drug use are not addressed.

1. Cases Of Overdose Among
Young People In Lithuania

2. Contents
• Reasons behind drug usage among young people in Lithuania
• Facts and statistics
• Personal experience of overdose cases
• Questions for discussion

3. Reasons behind drug usage
Most common reasons behind
young people using drugs are:
• 54,9% Curiosity
• 53,2% Desire for relaxation and
happiness
• 35,85% Desire not to stand out
from peers
• 21,4% Escape reality

4. Facts and statistics
• Around a hundred young adults die
from overdosing in Lithuania every
year.
• Most cases are related to injecting
opioids.
• 20,4% of young people could easily
get access to hard drugs in 24 hours

5. • A problem linked to suicide rate
• Highest suicide rate in Lithuania
from whole European countries
• 1 in 10 Lithuanian adults have
used an illicit substance in their
lifetime
• Cannabis, THC - Most
common substance
• Drug use is concentrated
among young adults aged
15-34 years.

6. • According to the National Public
Health Centre of Lithuania, drug-
related deaths have been increasing
steadily in the country since 2010
• State Border Guard Service detain 70 kg
of millions-worth cocaine,
amphetamine in 2020
• 7,1 million Euro
• Since January 2017, procurement
and possession of a small amount of
an illicit drug with no intent to
distribute is a crime
• Non-prison incarceration for 10-45
days.

7. • Lifetime use of cannabis and other illicit substances in Lithuania was
relatively close to the European average
• 7 500 high-risk opioid users, that is 3.92 per 1 000 of the population
• The available data on new HIV cases notified in 2015-17 indicate a
significant increase. Overall, the proportion of new HIV cases linked to
injecting drug use in Lithuania increased from 30 % in 2015 to 62 % in
2017,

9. Personal experience

10. Personal experience

11. Personal experience

12. Have you ever witnessed any overdose cases?
What are the main reasons of usage in your
countries?
Do you think that in the future cases of overdose
among young people will increase / decrease? Why?

13. Thank you for your
attention