Experts in Bulgaria are warning that drug use among young people has become one of the country’s most serious social challenges, calling for stronger prevention measures following the death of a 16-year-old girl in Blagoevgrad during a party where multiple substances were reportedly used, BNR reports.
Further reading: “One Message Away”: Bulgaria Confronts Growing Drug Crisis After Teen Girl’s Death
According to Aleksandar Panayotov from the National Focal Center for Drugs and Drug Addiction, law enforcement efforts have been effective in limiting drug distribution, but the broader reality of widespread use remains. He stressed that the issue is not unique to Bulgaria but part of a wider international trend, and that the focus should be on reducing its scale as much as possible.
Panayotov noted that the center conducts national surveys every four years, with the latest data collected at the end of 2025. The results show that 18.6% of students in grades 8 to 12 have had experience with drugs. Cannabis remains the most commonly used substance, while stimulants such as amphetamines, methamphetamines, ecstasy, and occasionally cocaine are used less frequently. LSD, hallucinogenic mushrooms, and ketamine are reported at very low levels, with Panayotov adding that their effects typically appear 30 to 60 minutes after consumption.
