Prosecutor-General Zilinka Warns of Rise in Drug-related Crime

Bratislava, 22 August (TASR) - The proportion of crime committed under the influence of alcohol or other addictive substances increased to 25.3 percent in 2025, up by 3.4 percentage points (p.p.) from 21.9 percent in 2024 and by 4.7 p.p. from 20.6 percent in 2023, Prosecutor-General Maros Zilinka stated on social media earlier this week. "The influence of alcohol or drugs on offenders is a serious problem because addictive substances remove inhibitions, reduce self-control and increase aggression and violence," added Zilinka. According to him, the proportion of offenders who committed crimes under the influence of addictive substances must be viewed in the context of a decline in the total number of people against whom criminal proceedings have been concluded in recent years. Last year, there were 23,343 such individuals, down by 14 percent when compared to 2024 (27,153) and by 20.4 percent when compared to 2023 (29,313). Last year, 4,141 people (17.7 percent) committed crimes under the influence of alcohol, as compared to 4,853 (17.9 percent) in 2024 and 5,214 (17.8 percent) in 2023. However, when it came to crimes committed under the influence of another addictive substance (drugs), there were 1,757 (7.5 percent) in 2025, but only 1,101 (4 percent) in 2024 and 820 (2.8 percent) in 2023. "The proportion of offenders committing crimes under the influence of alcohol has remained almost identical over the long term, but this can't be said about offenders acting under the influence of drugs, whose share is rising year on year. Statistical data clearly show that the number of people who committed crimes under the influence of drugs in 2025 did indeed rise significantly, by 59.6 percent from 2024 and by 114.3 percent from 2023," added Zilinka. jrg/df/am