Series: Drugs Uncovered: Part 2 Of 17

THE UNCOVERED POLL

Many Of Us Believe That Alcohol And Tobacco Pose A Greater Health Risk
Than Ecstasy Or Cocaine. This Special Observer Poll Reveals A Nation
With Complex, Shifting Views On Drugs

Consumption: What And When

Have you ever taken an illegal drug?

Yes: 28% No: 72%

Among the UK population aged 16 or over, 28 per cent (about 13m adults)
have taken illegal drugs at some point, with men more than twice as likely
to have done so as women (38 and 18 per cent respectively).

Age is also a key factor: from a figure of 51 per cent for those between 16
and 24, each successive age group is progressively less likely to have
taken illegal drugs. In terms of regional differences, drug taking is most
prevalent in the South East: 35 per cent of adults compared to 20 per cent
of adults in the North.

Which of the following drugs have you ever taken? (Asked of respondents who
have ever taken an illegal drug.)

Ecstasy 27%
Amphetamines (speed) 25%
LSD 22%
Cocaine 22%
Magic
mushrooms 21%
Crack 7%
Ketamine 4%
Heroin 4%

Cannabis is the most popular drug among all age groups. The second most
popular depends on age: ecstasy among 16-35 year-olds, LSD among 35-54
year-olds, and magic mushrooms among those aged 55 or over. Amphetamines
still score highly, but their use is declining.

Those aged 16-35 are more likely to take ecstasy, while those aged 35-54
are more likely to take cocaine. Cannabis is seen as a gateway drug by many
opposed to decriminalisation. However, among the 73 per cent of drug users
who began with cannabis, only a small proportion have subsequently tried
'hard' drugs such as crack (6 per cent), amphetamines (24 per cent), LSD
(22 per cent) and cocaine (20 per cent).

How do/did you generally buy illegal drugs? (Asked of respondents who have
ever taken an illegal drug.)

From a dealer you know 33%
From a dealer you don't know 7%
A friend buys them on your behalf 60%

Do you still take illegal drugs, even if only occasionally? (Asked of
respondents who have ever taken an illegal drug.)

Yes 48% No 52%

How regularly do you take illegal drugs? (Asked of respondents who still
take illegal drugs.)

Daily 17%
Weekly 32%
Monthly 19%
Less often 32%

When you take drugs, are you more likely to take them at home/friend's
home, or in a club/pub/bar environment? (Asked of respondents who still
take illegal drugs.)

Home/friend's home 80%
Pub/club/bar 20%

While drug transactions and usage are often depicted as seedy encounters
with shady characters prior to a frenzied night of clubbing, the truth is
more mundane. Only 7 per cent buy drugs from strangers. Men are more likely
than women to take drugs habitually: 21 per cent of men who currently take
drugs do so daily, compared to just 9 per cent of women.

While levels of drug use are highest in the South East, it appears that
much of this is dabbling, taking drugs at a special occasion. Only 7 per
cent of current drug users in the South East take drugs daily, compared to
26 per cent of users in the rest of the country. Due to the regularity of
drug consumption for many, it is, perhaps, unsurprising that 80 per cent of
drug users are more likely to use drugs at home than in a public place such
as a pub, club or bar.

How much do you spend on drugs in an average month? (Asked of all respondents.)

Mean figure among all respondents UKP8.66 Mean figure among drug users UKP51.39

This compares with an average spend among British adults of UKP43.88 per
month on alcohol, and UKP25.17 per month on tobacco products. Drug users
spend an average of UKP81.36 per month on alcohol, alongside the UKP51.39
they spend on drugs.

Have you ever sold drugs for profit? (Asked of respondents who have ever
take an illegal drug.)

Yes 11% No 89%

Have you ever bought drugs on behalf of your friends or supplied drugs to
friends without making a profit? (Asked of respondents who have ever taken
an illegal drug.)

Yes 34% No 66%

Do you think the law should differentiate between those who sell drugs for
profit and those who don't (eg. to friends)? (Asked of all respondents.)

Yes 31% No 69%

At present the law does not differentiate. Among those who have ever taken
drugs, 34 per cent say they have supplied them to friends without
profiting. Adding in those who have sold for profit, close to 10 per cent
of the UK adult population (over 4m adults) could be classified as drug
dealers. Among the 16-35 population of the UK, the relative numbers are
even higher: 16 per cent could be classified as drug dealers.

Early Experiences

Which of the following best describes why you first took drugs? (Asked of
respondents who have ever taken an illegal drug.)

Curiosity 75%
Peer pressure 22%
Desire to emulate heroes 3%

What was the first illegal drug you ever took? (Asked of respondents who
have ever taken an illegal drug.)

Cannabis 77%
LSD 5%
Ecstasy 4%
Amphetamines (speed) 4%
Magic mushrooms 3%
Cocaine 3%
Crack 1%
Other 3%

Among those who have taken an illegal drug, the average age of the first
experience is 18, with men tending to experiment at a slightly younger age
than women. Interestingly, among those who have at some time taken drugs,
but no longer do, the average age for stopping is 23. This suggests that,
for many, experimentation with drugs represents a relatively harmless rite
of passage, possibly associated with a specific period in their life, such
as university.

Curiosity is much more of an influence than peer pressure, the cause often
identified by many parents. However, women and younger drug users are more
likely to ascribe their first experience of drugs to peer pressure.

Do you think your child(ren) has/have ever taken illegal drugs? (Asked of
respondents with children aged between 12 and 35.)

Yes, certainly 7%
Yes, probably 9%
No 65%
Unsure 19%

Do you think that your child(ren) would ever take illegal drugs? (Asked of
respondents with children aged between 12 and 35.)

Yes, certainly 5%
Yes, probably 11%
No 53%
Unsure 31%

Of adults aged between 16 and 35, 45 per cent have taken illegal drugs at
some point in their lives. However, only 7 per cent of parents with
children aged between 12 and 35 are certain that their children have taken
drugs. Parents who have taken drugs themselves are twice as likely to
believe that their children have either certainly or probably taken drugs
(26 per cent as opposed to 13 per cent).

Also, parents who believe that certain drugs should be legalised or
decriminalised are also more likely to believe that their children have
taken drugs (20 per cent as opposed to 14 per cent). Only 45 per cent of
parents are confident their children never have or never would take illegal
drugs.

Crime And Punishment

From what you have seen or heard, what percentage of street crime and
burglary do you estimate is either directly or indirectly related to
drugs?(Asked of all respondents.)

Mean figure 66%

Do you believe that levels of street crime and burglary would be reduced if
hard drugs were decriminalised? (Asked of all respondents.)

Would be reduced 45%
Would make no difference 55%

Have you ever committed a criminal act to fund your purchase of drugs?
(Asked of all respondents who have ever taken illegal drugs.)

Yes 6% No 94%

The perception among UK adults is that, either directly or indirectly,
drugs are responsible for 66 per cent of all street crime and burglary.
There is little regional variation in the estimates, with those in the
north of England, attributing the highest percentage of crime to drugs (70
per cent) and those in the South East estimating the lowest figure (62 per
cent).

Those who have never taken an illegal drug are likely to attribute a higher
proportion of crime to drugs than those who have taken drugs (69 per cent
and 58 per cent respectively). Age impacts upon the proportion of crime
attributed to drugs: those aged 55 plus estimate that 72 per cent of street
crime is committed because of drugs.

However, what is clear, despite these fluctuations, is that all sections of
society feel that drugs and street crime/burglary are intrinsically linked.
A government intent on decriminalising hard drugs would be best advised to
use the increasing fear of crime among the electorate to sell the idea: 45
per cent of adults believe that levels of street crime and burglary would
be reduced if hard drugs were decriminalised. Among those who believe some
drugs should be legalised or decriminalised, this figure rises to 53 per cent.

While the link between drugs and crime is established, the vast majority of
drug users in the UK have never committed a criminal act to fund their
purchase of drugs. Only 6 per cent of drug users have funded drug purchases
through crime, with the figure rising to 42 per cent among those who
believe that they have had a drug 'problem'. If perceptions are correct,
this suggests that a small percentage of drug users (generally addicts) are
responsible for a disproportionately large percentage of drug-related
street crime.

Do you believe that certain drugs that are currently illegal should either
be legalised or decriminalised? (Asked of all respondents.)

Yes 38% No 62%

Which drugs in particular do you believe should either be legalised or
decriminalised? (Asked of all respondents who believe that certain drugs
should be legalised or decriminalised.)

Cannabis 83%
All of them 10%
Ecstasy 8%
Magic mushrooms 7%
Cocaine 5%
Amphetamines (speed) 5%
LSD 3%
Heroin 2%
Crack 1%
Ketamine 1%

The 83 per cent of adults who support a change to drug legislation and feel
that cannabis should be legalised or decriminalised, equates to 31 per cent
of the UK population. There is no comparable level of popular support to
legalise or decriminalise any other drug.

Do you believe that drug addicts who have been arrested for possession (as
opposed to dealing) should be given custodial prison sentences? (Asked of
all respondents.)

Yes 58% No 42%

In Portugal, it is no longer a crime to possess drugs (although it is still
a criminal offence to supply them). Would you support the introduction of a
similar scheme in this country? (Asked of all respondents.)

Yes 34% No 66%

Would you support or oppose a scheme whereby certain illegal drugs were
available on prescription to registered drug addicts? (Asked of all
respondents.)

Support 46% Oppose 54%

With the prison population of the UK expanding to bursting point, and
little evidence that custodial prison sentences act as a significant
deterrent to drug addicts, 42 per cent of UK adults believe that drug
addicts arrested for possession of drugs (as opposed to dealing) should be
spared prison.

Despite minor fluctuations, there is a broadly consistent level of support
for non-custodial sentences among all age groups, while among those who
have had a problem with drugs, 65 per cent feel that custodial sentences
should not be imposed. Furthermore, 46 per cent of UK adults believe that
drug addicts who register themselves as such should have access to certain
illegal drugs via prescription.

Again, while there are fluctuations on the basis of age, there are solid
levels of support for the proposal among all age groups. The levels of
support for these liberal schemes suggest the growing popularity of a
pragmatic approach towards the problem of drugs, an approach that
prioritises rehabilitation over punishment and regulation over prohibition.
There is also a suggestion that support for government regulation and
distribution of hard drugs could be based on the potential to impact
positively on drug related crime.

What the results may illustrate are the changing public perceptions of
addiction thanks to the ubiquity of celebrities admitting to addiction of
one type or another. Drug addicts, once dismissed as morally degenerate by
the majority, are increasingly likely to be seen as suffering from an illness.

A further example of the increased pragmatism of the UK public is provided
by the strength of support for decriminalising the possession of all drugs.
34 per cent of adults would support the introduction of a scheme based on
the Portuguese model in which possession of all drugs is decriminalised.
While it is unsurprising that 67 per cent of those who have taken drugs
support the introduction of this scheme, it is significant that 21 per cent
of adults who have never taken drugs support decriminalisation of drug
possession.

Which, if any, of the following do you believe should undergo routine drug
testing? (Asked of all respondents.)

Pilots 67%
Drivers 66%
Police 61%
Doctors/nurses 61%
Teachers 46%
None of these 13%

The Health Risks

Rank these drugs in order of perceived health risk. (Percentages refer to
numbers judging that particular drug as the greatest risk. Asked of all
respondents.

Heroin 27%
Crack 19%
Tobacco 13%
Ecstasy 11
Cocaine 10%
LSD 8%
Alcohol 6%
Amphetamines 4%
Cannabis 2%

All demographic groups, with the exception of the 55-64 age group, ranked
cannabis as the least hazardous drug, below both tobacco and alcohol; even
among those who have never taken an illegal drug, cannabis is perceived as
the least harmful to health.

Only 6 per cent believe that alcohol is the drug that poses the greatest
health risk. However, those who have taken drugs believe that only heroin,
crack and tobacco pose a greater health risk than alcohol. In Scotland, the
part of the UK which has the highest monthly expenditure on alcohol, 13 per
cent believe it poses the greatest health risk, almost twice the national
average.

In your opinion, do you think you have ever had a problem with drugs?
(Asked of all respondents who have ever taken an illegal drug.)

Yes 10% No 90%

Do you currently know, or have ever known, someone who you think has a
serious drug problem? (Asked of all respondents.)

Yes 36% No 64%

The 16-24 age group scores highest among those who feel they've had, or
currently have, a 'problem' with drugs. Though youthful braggadocio might
play a part in this score. 16 per cent of drug users who are not currently
working believe they have had a 'problem' with drugs, compared to 7 per
cent in work.

While very few drug users think they have had a 'problem' themselves, 59
per cent believe they have known someone with a serious drug problem. The
disparity suggests the individual may be the last person to identify a
developing problem. Those most likely to know someone with a drug problem
is the 16-24 age group (53 per cent).

Number Of Regular Users

Cannabis 5.1m
Ecstasy 2.4m
Amphetamines 2.1m
Cocaine 2m
Heroin 426,000

* Poll analysis by Jim Mann. Poll conducted by ICM Research in
February/March 2002. A sample of 1075 UK adults aged 16+ were interviewed.
Participants completed a confidential questionnaire. Interviews were
conducted across the country and the results have been weighted to the
profile of all adults.