Large cities are confronted with a wide range of drug-related problems, and many new trends in drug consumption appear first in urban contexts. This study aims to monitor and interpret trends and developments in drug misuse across a network of forty-two major cities in twenty-four European countries. The report covers the period 1991-98, and uses a set of standardised epidemiological indicators covering prevalence, treatment, health, drug law offences and the drug market. It also includes an analysis of trends in eastern and western European cities.

Two Worlds of Drug Consumption in Late Modern Societies reports the findings of an empirical study of drug users in London, Amsterdam, Turin, Prague, Vienna and Warsaw, European cities representative of a wide range of drug problems and public policies. The innovative study reconceives the standard distinctions between 'hard-core' and 'recreational' drug users in terms of their social position. The authors argue that this is closely related to consumption patterns rather than drug choice, and reveals that 2 relatively homogenous drug worlds exist within each of the study sites. This leads to the development of diverging drug markets; a friendly market for the integrated consumer, and a highly commercialized one for the marginalized customer, where low quality goods are sold at a higher price. These findings have significant implications for academics and professionals working in health, psychology and urban studies.