A new survey by the “Trend” agency shows that drug use is widely perceived as a serious social problem in Bulgaria, with overwhelming public support for tougher measures against distribution and trafficking.
According to the data, a large majority of respondents describe drug consumption as a national concern, with around a third calling it a “very serious problem.” Overall, up to 92% of Bulgarians consider drug use to be a serious issue for the country, based on findings reported by BTA.
The study also highlights how widespread personal exposure to the issue is. More than 40% of respondents say they know someone who has used or is currently using drugs, while nearly half report having at least one acquaintance affected. Most commonly, these are friends or casual acquaintances (11%), followed by colleagues or classmates (7%), and close family members (2%), with higher rates among people under 30.
“Nearly six out of ten believe that there is easy access to drugs in their locality,” the survey notes, indicating a widespread perception that narcotics are readily available in local communities.
When asked about the causes of drug use among young people, respondents most frequently point to curiosity and experimentation (50%), peer pressure (42%), easy availability (39%), and lack of parental control (37%).
