THL: The use of a powerful conversion drug is steeply growing
Junk|Amphetamine and cocaine were used more than ever in many cities last year.
Conversion The use of the Alpha-PVP, the so-called thumb, is growing sharply in Finland, as shown in the wastewater survey of the National Institute for Health and Welfare (THL). According to it, use has multiplied in recent years, for example in the Helsinki Metropolitan Area and Tampere.
« Its problematic use is continuous, which is reflected in the amount of ice water in wastewater studies on different days of the week. Alpha-PVP is also used to replace the use of more traditional drugs such as amphetamine, » says THL’s legal toxicology manager Teemu Gunnar.
Southern and western Finland In addition to the largest cities, Alpha-PVP was found regularly in Hämeenlinna, Salo, Huittinen, Vihti, Porvoo, Kotka, Seinäjoki, Savonlinna, Vaasa and Lappeenranta.
« In many cities in Eastern and Northern Finland, on the other hand, there were no measurable amounts to be found. It is typical for wastewater monitoring that temporal and regional use variations are greater than in more traditional drugs, » the release states.
According to THL, the alpha-PVP is the most common and longest-wide new psychoactive substance in Finland. It was classified as a drug in Finland in 2013.
From a wastewater study It also appears that amphetamine and cocaine were used more than ever in many cities last year.
« Cocaine was already observed in almost all measurement cities, but the volumes of usage were still significantly higher in the big cities of southern Finland, » says THL’s Development Manager in the release Aino Kankaanpää.
According to THL, amphetamine is the most commonly used stimulant drug in the vast in the country. The use of cocaine, on the other hand, is strongly focused on southern Finland.
Drug According to THL, increased use has significantly increased the monetary value of the drug market over the last ten years. According to a wastewater survey, the market value of amphetamine was calculated in Finland last year in Finland EUR 120-150 million, EUR 87-96 million in cocaine and approximately EUR 5 million for methamphetamine.
« Over the ten -year period, there is significant growth here, especially for cocaine, » the release states.
In 2014, the market value of amphetamine was estimated at EUR 70 million and cocaine EUR 10 million.
The extensive national wastewater survey, published on Friday, covers about 60 percent of the Finnish population. The survey includes the March and November collection periods from 30 cities and their surroundings. The results of the March follow -up of the current year have also been reported for Helsinki, Espoo, Turku and Tampere.
