The economic crisis that Europe experienced in 2008 and later presented a grave challenge to public finances. Countries responded to this by undertaking fiscal consolidation. By examining public expenditure in the areas where most drug-related activities are provided, this report looks at how austerity affected responses to the drugs problem. While the full effect of austerity on drug policy is not yet clear, one of the tentative conclusions is that the countries hardest hit by the recession are the ones in which drug policy is most heavily impacted.

Table of contents:
• Introduction
• Methods and analytical approaches
• Impact on public spending
• Impact on overall expenditure covering drug-related activities
• Variation in impact between countries and sectors
• Impact on drug-related public expenditure Conclusion
• Glossary
• Appendix
• References