GERMAN DEATHS FROM DRUG ABUSE ROSE 12 PCT IN 1998

BONN, - The number of deaths from illegal drug use
in Germany in 1998 rose nearly 12 percent to 1,674 people, a report
from the government's narcotics agency said on Monday.

The numbers of Germans using hard drugs increased last year, with the
numbers of first-time users up 1.7 percent at 20,943.

"There was also an increase in the number of first-time users of hard
drugs," said Christa Nickels, state secretary responsible for drug-
related issues.

But Nickels said the agency had detected a sharp decline in the use of
the party drug ecstasy.

She said the number of registered first-time users of ecstasy had
fallen by 25 percent. She said there were 20 percent fewer LSD users
and the number of first-time heroin users fell 1.3 percent.

There was a 20 percent rise in the number of first-time amphetamine
users, while the number of first-time cocaine users rose by 10.6 percent.

Cannabis remains Germany's most popular illegal drug -- over two
million people said they had used cannabis.

The report also showed that more young people were using drugs, up
five percent since the end of the 1980s.

Tobacco remained the most popular drug overall and the report showed
that 43 percent of men and 30 percent of women in Germany were smokers.

The report also showed that four million adults in Germany were in
danger from alcohol abuse or dependence.