On the Edge of the Abyss: How Lithuanian Youth Are Falling into the Drug Trap

VILNIUS – Behind a veneer of European prosperity, a drama is unfolding in Lithuania that threatens to cripple an entire generation. Drug use among young people has reached a critical point, evolving from “experiments” into a leading cause of poisonings and deaths. While the authorities are shifting their policy from repression to public health, statistics paint a grim picture: nearly one in five schoolchildren has already tried illicit substances.

Alarming Statistics: Higher Than the European Average

Data from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) is shocking: 19% of Lithuanian teenagers aged 15-16 have tried drugs at least once. This figure exceeds the average for participating countries (15.1%). Cannabis remains the leader, having been used by 18.1% of students, which is also above the European average.

However, a more dangerous trend is hiding behind “weed.” The popularity of synthetic drugs is growing:

• Ecstasy (MDMA): tried by 3% of students.
• LSD and other hallucinogens: 2.6%
• Amphetamines: 2.3%
• Cocaine: 2.2%

The most terrifying indicator of the problem is the sharp increase in acute drug poisonings among minors. In 2022, nearly a third (29.6%) of all hospitalizations for overdose involved individuals under 18. The main culprit was cannabis, debunking the myth of its safety. The situation among girls is particularly alarming: half of all female patients admitted to hospitals for drug poisoning were underage.

A Crossroads for Drug Trafficking and Deadly New Substances

Lithuania’s geographical location makes it vulnerable. The country is a key transit hub for drugs moving from Western Europe to Russia and Scandinavia. Amphetamine and methamphetamine are partly produced locally, while new psychoactive substances (NPS) flow in from China and other Asian countries. This availability drives down prices and makes drugs accessible to young people.

Against this backdrop, the nature of overdose fatalities is also changing. While heroin was once the primary cause of lethal overdoses, it has been replaced by ultra-potent synthetic opioids like carfentanil—a substance thousands of times stronger than heroin that often leads to instant death. The number of deaths from carfentanil in Lithuania nearly doubled from 16 cases in 2021 to 31 in 2022.

A New Strategy: To Save, Not to Imprison

Recognizing the depth of the crisis, Lithuanian authorities approved the National Agenda for Drug, Tobacco and Alcohol Control until 2035 in May 2023. This marks a revolutionary shift from a punitive policy to an approach focused on public health and human rights. The main goal is not to punish the user, but to help them protect and restore their health.

The new strategy emphasizes:

• Prevention and education: informing young people about the real risks.
• Harm reduction: expanding the network of low-threshold centers where users can anonymously exchange needles and receive counseling.
• Accessible treatment: state funding for free care for addicts, including specialized programs for children and adolescents.

This approach is an acknowledgment that addiction is primarily a health issue, not a crime. However, experts note that despite the correct vector, the existing infrastructure (such as needle exchange programs) is still insufficient to cover everyone in need.

The battle for the future of Lithuania’s youth has just begun, and its outcome depends on how effectively the words of the new strategy are translated into real action.