Seizures of cannabis resin have sharply decreased from 3,047 kg in 1994 to only 12.2 kg in 1998. This development may also point to an increasing supply from cultivation areas in the Egyptian Sinai where cannabis is almost exclusively trafficked in the form of cannabis herb. LSD seizures peaked in 1996 with 16,660 units. Overall seizure of the stimulants group, however, are declining after a peak in 1996. There appears to be only little trafficking of Fenethylline branching off from the huge transit trafficking in Jordan which supports the assumption that these drugs pass Jordan in direction of the Gulf countries.
Drug abuse is spread among all social strata in Israel.
The main drugs of abuse are cannabis and heroin, heroin has become more prominent in the recent years. In 1996 reports, Israeli authorities reported a rise in the consumption of cocaine and a sharp increase in the use of LSD and amphetamines. In addition, the authorities are concerabout the widespread abuse of tranquilizers. There is concern that developments in Israel may lead to a drug control situation similar to that in Western Europe and North America. A further reason for concern is the fact that the age of first use of illicit drugs is constantly falling.