Concerns over the drug crisis in Cyprus are intensifying after addiction specialists warned of a rapid deterioration in substance abuse trends across the island.
Speaking on the “Protoselido” programme, clinical director of Agia Skepi, Tina Pavlou, highlighted the increasing risks linked to opioid substances and explained why such drugs are now appearing in Cyprus.
Referring to recent discoveries of dried poppy bulbs, Pavlou explained that the substances belong to the opioid family.
She noted that changing trafficking routes across the Middle East and Europe had affected the availability of heroin in Cyprus in recent years.
“In recent years, there was not enough heroin in Cyprus due to changes in trafficking routes across the East and Europe, and to a certain extent, we escaped this issue. Now these substances have been identified,” she said.
Sharp increase in treatment cases
Pavlou stressed that all opioids are highly dangerous and extremely addictive.
She explained that opioids are among the categories of substances capable of causing physical dependence, describing them as particularly serious due to their long-term effects.
She also painted a worrying picture of addiction trends in Cyprus, warning that demand is rising faster than the ability of the system to respond.
Comparing current figures with last year, she said treatment centres are seeing significantly higher numbers of people seeking help.
“We are talking about double the number of cases in the first half of 2026 compared with last year, which was already considered a very difficult year,” she said.
Synthetic drugs increase pressure on services
According to Pavlou, the rise in synthetic drugs has also changed the challenges faced by treatment programmes.
She said authorities and treatment services were struggling to keep pace with the growing scale of the problem.
“We can openly and officially say that we are not responding to the degree we should. We are running behind the problem, and the numbers confirm where the country must focus regarding drug treatment,” she said.
Pavlou added that the effects of synthetic substances increasingly lead users to psychiatric care.
She explained that many individuals experience psychotic episodes, receive treatment and then return to substance use shortly afterwards due to addiction.
Calls for urgent action
Pavlou revealed that Agia Skepi recently assessed a 35-year-old individual who had already undergone 19 hospital admissions.
She described the case as deeply disturbing and said immediate action was needed.
Among the measures she called for were dedicated treatment and detention facilities for minors, a specialised ward for substance users at Athalassa Hospital and stronger prevention efforts beginning at very young ages.
She stressed that emotional care and mental health support should start from the kindergarten level if long-term change is to be achieved.
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