EUROPEAN WEEK FOR DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION. Preliminary report of data analysis. Reference contract N 92CVVE

Transcription

1 Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology 14 rue J. Wytsman 1050 Brussels EUROBAROMETER 37 EUROPEAN WEEK FOR DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION Prelimary report of data analysis Reference contract N 92CVVE DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS COMMISSION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES

2 TABLE OF CONTENT Pages INTRODUCTION 1 METHODS OF ANALYSIS 3 PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT 4 PART 1 : SUMMARY OF MAIN INFORMATION 5 PART 11 : SUMMARY TABLES OF REGIONAL DIFFERENCES 8 PART 1 11 : DETAILED ANALYSIS 19. ALCOHOLISM. DRUG ABUSE ANNEXE 1 : ANNEXE 2 : FIGURES QUESTIONNAIRE 55 69

3 INTRODUCTION I. PRESENTATION OF EUROBAROMETER : Eurobarometer is a public opion survey carried out periodically on behalf of the Directorate-General for 'Information, Communications and Culture' of the Commission of the European Communities. The Survey, Research and Analyses (SRA) department is responsible for actually conductg the survey. The objectives are to form the Commission, the Institutions of the European Community and the Member States of European attitudes to major problems such as: - energy - poverty - science and technology - racism and xenophobia - the environment - young people - health, life styles. The terviews are conducted twice yearly, the sprg and autumn, among a sample of 1,000 people for each Member State of the European Community. Each sample is representative of the national population aged 1 5 years and over. Based on a rigorous and standardised procedure each country, this type of survey makes it possible to obta comparable data for all the EC countries. The fact that this strument has existed for almost twenty years now also lends it a legitimacy and stability which would otherwise be difficult to atta. The EURO-BAROMETER 32.1 survey, carried out autumn 1989, tackled a number of different subjects relatg to public health, addition to those traditionally covered. These new subjects were : - Well-beg, State of Health - Europe agast cancer - Diet and Dietetics - Smokg - Alcoholism - Drug abuse -AIDS This experience was repeated 1990 the framework of EURO-BAROMETER 34.1 which was carried out September-October 1990.

4 Between March and May 1 992, two successive stages of the Euro-barometer (37 0 and 37 1) made it possible TO terview 25,600 people representative of the European population (the second stage, 37 1, made it possible to sub-sample young people under 25) on the subject of alcoholism and drug abuse These subjects have fact been cluded the Euro-barometer preparation for European week for drug abuse prevention to be held November 1992 //. SURVEY ORGANISATION : The Euro-barometer surveys are carried out by national survey companies In each country, the sample of the population studied ( + / persons per country) is chosen on a random basis. On the basis of the Eurostats-NUTS 1 1 subdivisions of countries and the population density, pots of cidence are selected proportion to the total population of the regions The postcodes are used as a unit of these pots A total of 100 to 150 postcodes are used to form a sample of 1000 terviewees A maximum of 10 terviews are conducted per pot of cidence Per family selected one dividual is chosen (the one who is next to have a birthday) A maximum of two visits are made before this person is replaced by another order to constitute the sample An average of one person three refuses to participate the survey In order to keep to the samplg numbers, these non-participants are replaced by others. No formation is collected on these non-participants or on the number of substitutions made The European data from surveys are centralised at INRA (EUROPE) where an itial analysis is carried out As regards the public health subjects of stages 32 1 ana 34 1, a secondary analysis is carried out at the INSTITUTE FOR HYGIENE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY Brussels see ter alia "Euro-barometer 34, Results or the Health Questionnaire, Report for the Directorate-General for Employment and Industrial and Social Affairs, August 19911" For the Euro-barometer survey, INRA has produced an itial series of tables entitled "breakdown by country" while the INSTITUTE FOR HYGIENE AND EPIDEMIOLOGY was responsible for the secondary analysis - the analysis which is the subject of this report

5 METHOD OF ANA LYSIS The 14 Euro-barometer 37 questions on Alcoholism and Smokg (see annexe) were analysed first of all dividually (simple frequency analysis) and the relation to a series of socio-demographic parameters (the later havg been selected from a set of Euro-barometer parameters) sex age level of education marital status social class (defed by the dividuals themselves, accordance with the terviewer) place of residence (rural, semi-urban, or large city) Fally, when it proved useful, the relationship between these different questions was also analysed In presentg the results, only those socio-economic variables which have a significant effect on the questions studied are mentioned Furthermore, order to avoid any abusive terpretation of the results, it is important to remember thai the Euro-barometer survey is a public opion survey This survey is designed to gather the opions of a sample of people on a number of subjects, but these opions do not necessarily reflect the optimal observable attitudes and life styles, nor the positions of the Commission of the European Communities On the other hand, this survey also has certa methodological limitations, prcipally lked to the samplg method employed and the lack of formation on those who decled to take part In order to make up the sample population, persons who failed to respond positively to the vitation were replaced by others and the question may well be asked whether or not the adoption of a particular life style or other variables such as region of residence, sex, age, and degree of knowledge do not constitute biases All these considerations call for a certa prudence terpretg the results

6 PRESENTA TI0 N OF THE REPORT This report consists of three distct sections. a summary of the prcipal fdgs, an analysis of the differences by country and/or entities, and a detailed analysis of the results. The summary of the prcipal fdgs provides an terpretation of the most pertent data likely to fluence European drug abuse policy. This summary is based on the analysis by country and/or geographic entity on the one hand, summarised the second section the form of tables, and an -depth analysis on the other hand which records the prcipal observations the third section (only significant differences likely to be of practical terest are given). It should be noted that. where it is considered useful, the two areas of Germany are presented separately As reunification is only of recent date, major differences rema between the two regions. If necessary, additional formation may be obtaed by contactg : DG for Employment and Industrial and Social Affairs The Health and Safety Department of the Commission of the European Communities Luxembourg (Jean Monnet Buildg, 2920 Luxembourg, tel.. 352/430 11) INRA (EUROPE) Brussels (18 av R Vandendnessche, Brussels, tel. 32/2/ ). the epidemiology department of the Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology (rue Juliette Wijtsman 14, 1050 Brussels. Belgium, telephone 32 2/ ) - 4

7 SECTION 7: SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS 1. ALCOHOLISM We can observe a certa homogeneity at European level as regards the frequency with which alcoholic drks are taken. Only Denmark, and perhaps Belgium, seem to stand out as havg a greater number of people who state thai they regularly take an alcoholic drk. The profile of people who drk regularly is as follows. male aged 25 to 54 years higher education membership of a well-off social class. The average alcohol consumption durg the week is significantly higher four countries (Greece, France, Luxembourg and Portugal). This excess contues durg the weekend Greece and France There is no significant difference on this subject between 1990 (Euro-barometer 34) and except for Italy where the replies are too conflictg for meangful terpretation However, the fact remas that alcohol consumption is higher among men adults and people belongg to a well-off social class. With the exception of Denmark and East Germany, we can see most European countries an underestimation of how alcohol impairs drivg capacity. When you take account of the share of road traffic accidents mortality figures, this should lead to a strengtheng of programmes designed to educate and prevent people from drkg and drivg, especially Italy, Greece, France and Belgium By the age of 15, more than one quarter of Europeans have already started to drk alcoholic drks (61 % Denmark), and three-quarters by the age of This shows just how commonplace alcohol consumption fact is, particular Denmark, but also Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Greece, the United Kgdom and France, where eight to ne adolescents ten have already begun to consume alcoholic drks by this age

8 2. DRUG ABUSE 1. Knowledge : MOST drugs are relatively well known the European Community. Two drugs are, however, the exception : crack and ecstasy which have been troduced only recently, but which nevertheless seem to be better known Ireland and the United Kgdom. The replies nevertheless reveal some notable differences : drugs are less known rural areas LSD and crack are more common the more privileged social circles young people tend to be more familiar with ecstasy than adults There is a clear relation between a knowledge of drugs and the estimation of the associated danger. this is confirmed by the differences both by country (with the exception of Spa where, for example, cocae is more often considered to be dangerous despite the fact that it is not very well known) and accordg to socio-demograpnic characteristics Thus, the followg groups are more sensitive to the dangers of drugs young people people belongg to a well-off social group students This relationship between knowledge of a drug and the estimated danger associated with it is not confirmed the case of hashish On the contrary, people to whom marijuana has already been offered are less cled to consider the drug dangerous This perhaps reflects, as the case of alcohol but 10 a lesser extent, a tendency 'or the consumption of marijuana/hashish to become commonplace the European Community The prcipal effects of drug abuse are weil known among the population, apart from perhaps the risk of contractg AIDS certa countries (Belgium Germany ana the Netherlands) 2. Proximity : Almost one person five has been offered hashish 127% of the Under-25), ana the percentage is even higher Denmark. Spa ana me Netherlands For the other drugs, the level is much lower between one and three per cent of the people terviewed Certa drugs are, however, offered more often ecstasy Belgium hero Denmark hero, cocae and ecstasy Spa hero France hero the Netherlands LSD, crack and ecstasy the United Kgdom - 6 -

9 People who are more frequently offered drugs have the followg profile male student aged under 35 (for hero, hashish and cocae) aged under 25 (for LSD, crack and ecstasy). On the basis of these results, we can estimate that approximately three million five hundred thousand young people (aged under twenty-five) are offered drugs before the age of 1 9, and 1 5% before the age of 15. Certa countries such as Denmark, France and the Netherlands are characterised by both an early consumption of alcohol and by the fact that young people are offered drugs at a relatively young age. In Spa we see, on the other hand, a high proportion of young people confronted more specifically by the problem of drugs while countries such as Italy, Germany and Greece they seem to have been spared this problem. Boys livg an urban environment are the ones solicited the most. Two-thirds of those terviewed consider that it is easy to fd drugs. Schools do not appear to have been spared this scourge (despite very marked differences from one country to another) 62% of people believe thai drugs are regularly found and consumed schools. The replies recorded for Denmark are, however, confusg on this pot. While access to drugs seems to be difficult, young people are offered drugs at an early age. Overall, fewer than five per cent of the persons terviewed believe that drugs are never taken at the places given. 3. Attitudes Drug abuse is above all considered as a question of maturity (drug-takers are prcipally young people) and a problem of society (drug addicts are a burden on society) The majority of people every country are favour of measures to be taken agast drug traffickg. There is clearly no consensus as regards means of prevention based on formation, social promotion or changes to the legislation Although everyone approves the settg up of special centres to treat drug addicts, the prescribg of substitute drugs as part of the treatment remas a subject of controversy (70% of people favour) The free distribution of needles is only accepted by young people, tellectuals and the habitants of large towns Elderly people or those with a lower level of education are more favour of the crackg down on and/or isolation of drug addicts - 7 -

10 SECTION II : DIFFERENCE BY COUNTRY The followg tables present the differences between the various countries and/or entities of the European Community. Germany, for example, has been split to two separate entities (East and West) order to study any differences between these two regions which only recently united. Interpretation 1. The symbols " " which are given the tables dicate that for the subject question that country is significantly above the European average (which means, for example, that the people terviewed this country are clearly more favour of formation campaigns on drug abuse). 2. By contrast, the symbols "- - -" mean that the people terviewed a given country are clearly below the European average. For example. on average, alcohol consumption this country is below the European average) 3. Fally, the empty boxes dicate that the results observed among the persons terviewed the correspondg country do not differ significantly from the European average. For further details, please refer 10 section three which sets out the prcipal results for each of the questions

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12 ALCOHOL : 1. How many units of alcohol (*) do you drk on average per weekday, from the time you get up till the time you go to bed? 2. How many units of alcohol (*) do you drk on average per day at the weekend, from the time you get up till the time you go to bed? 3. After how many units of alcohol (*) does your ability to drive become impaired? (*) one glass of beer = 1 unit. one glass of we = 1 unit and one glass of alcohol = 2 units. (**) mean at the European level

13 ALCOHOL : (target = people under age 25) How old were you when you started to drk alcoholic drks for the first time?

14

15 DRUG ABUSE : Which of the followg drugs have you ever been offered 7

16 DRUG ABUSE : Which of the followg drugs do you thk are dangerous?

17 DRUG ABUSE : (target = people below age 25) How old were you when any of these drugs were first offered to you?

18 DRUG ABUSE : Do you thk that you can get drugs very easily or fairly easily or not through friends or acquatances? On the street? At school? At places where you spend your leisure time?

19 DRUG ABUSE In your opion, what is the top priority elimatg the drug problem?

20 DRUG ABUSE Various measures can be taken to dimish the effect of drug use. For each of these measures, please tell me lether you are favour or not: distributg free needles, reducg price of the drugs, treatg drug addicts with substitute products (methadone, by example), crackg down on or isolatg drug addicts.

21 PART III : DETAILLED ANAL YSIS 1. Alcoholism 2. Drug abuse - toxicomania 19

22 Alcoholism ALCOHOLISM Could you tell me which of the alcoholic drks on this card you have never drunk? you used to drk regularly but do not anymore? you regularly drk nowadays? Drks : Don't drk (%) Used to drk (%) Drk (%) Beer We Others All Differences by country: drk more regularly : beer Belgium (54%), Denmark (73%) and West Germany (54%) we Italy (60%) spirits Belgium (44%), Denmark (62%) and France (48%) all alcoholic drks Belgium (71%) and Denmark (89%) Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics Drk all alcoholic drks more regularly men (78%) more than women (43%) people between 25 and 54 years more than others (72%) people who have attended higher education (76%) people from a higher social class (76%)

23 Alcoholism Drk beer more regularly men (78%) more than women (55%) people between 15 and 44 years (52%) sgle people more than others (53%) people from a higher social class (53%) Drk we more regularly men (55%) more than women (44%) people between 35 and 54 years (57%) people livg as a couple or divorced -separated (53%) people who have attended a course of higher secondary or university education (57%) people from a higher social class (61%) Drk aperitifs, liqueurs or other spirits more regularly men (41%) more than women (26%) people between 15 and 54 years (37%) people who have attended higher education (44%) people from a higher social class (43%)

24 Alcoholism How many units of alcohol (*) do you drk on average 1. per weekday, from the time you get up till the time you go to bed? 2. per day at the week end? (*) one glass of beer = 1 unit. one glass of we = 1 unit and one glass of alcohol = 2 units COUNTRY Average Consumption (units) per weekday (EB37) Average Consumption (units) per weekday (EB34) GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG GREECE PORTUGAL FRANCE ITALY GERMANY BELGIUM SPAIN UNITED KINGDOM THE NETHERLANDS IRELAND DENMARK 1,9 1,53 1,43 1,33 1,23 1,11 1,1 1,0 0,94 0,92 0,67 0,57 1,9 1,5 1,4 1,8 4,0 1,0 1,1 1,05 1,2 1,0 1,07 0,8 EUROPE 1,1 1 1,7 Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics Alcohol consumption is higher aunng the week among men (1 7 units) than among women (0 6) adults (1.2 units) than among people under 25 (0 9) or over 74 (0 8 unnsi

25 Alcoholism COUNTRY AVERAGE CONSUMPTION (units) at the weekend GREECE IRELAND FRANCE. THE NETHERLANDS GERMANY DENMARK BELGIUM UNITED KINGDOM GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG SPAIN PORTUGAL 2,87 2,59 2,24 2,19 2,18 2,17 2,16 2,12 2,03 2,01 1,76 EUROPE 2,17 Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics : Alcohol consumption is higher at the weekend among : men (2.7 units) than among women (1.4) people aged between 15 and 64 years (2 3 units) than among people aged over 64 (1.4 units) people from a higher social class (2.4 units) than among others (2 units)

26 Alcoholism After how many units of alcohol does your ability to drive become impaired? COUNTRY Average no. of units - ability to drive ITALY GREECE FRANCE BELGIUM GD LUXEMBOURG GERMANY THE NETHERLANDS IRELAND PORTUGAL SPAIN DENMARK UNITED KINGDOM 4,34 3,93 3,06 2,68 2,49 2,17 2,14 2,1 2,08 2,04 1,89 1,46 EUROPE 2,45 Note : by way of comparison. it is important to noie that European drkg and drivg limits are set at 12 grams of alcohol This is equivalent TO two units of alcohol (2 glasses of beer or 2 glasses of we and an alcohol level of 0.5 grams. Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics. Impaired drivg capacity is put at a higher level by men (3.1 units) more than women (2 1) people between 15 ana 54 years (2.3 units) sgle people (2.8 units) people of a higher social class (middle classes and above). 2.8 units

27 Alcoholism How old were you when you started to drk alcoholic drks for the first time? (target = people below age 25) COUNTRY yrs (% among yrs) yrs (% among yrs) yrs (% among yrs) < 19 yrs (% among yrs) DENMARK GERMANY GD LUXEMBOURG THE NETHERLANDS GREECE PORTUGAL BELGIUM UNITED KINGDOM ITALY FRANCE SPAIN IRELAND EUROPE Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics : men start to drk earlier than women : 63% before the age of 17 compared with 48% workg class environments and among families of a higher social class, young people also start to drk earlier

28 DRUG ABUSE - TOXIC0 MANIA 26

29 Toxicomania Which of the followg drugs have you ever heard off? see figures 1 to 3, pages 56 to 58 DRUGS HAVE HEARD OF (%) (EB ) HAVE HEARD OF (%) (EB ) HASHISH - MARIJUANA HEROIN COCAINE MORPHINE LSD GLUE CRACK ECSTASY Note : there is no significant difference between (EB34) and (EB37) as regards the level of knowledge of the different drugs. Differences by country the followg drugs have been heard of more often LSD Denmark (93%) and the United kgdom (95%) Crack Ireland (81 %) and the United Kgdom (93%) Ecstasy Belgium (71 %), Ireland (76%) and The United Kgdom (93%). Glue (and Solvents) Denmark (89%), France (89%), Ireland (93%) and the United Kgdom (97%) Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics Are less familiar with HASHISH and marijuana the habitants of rural areas

30 Toxicomania Are less familiar with morphe or hero : elderly people (75 and over) or widows/widowers people who have completed primary education only The habitants of rural areas Are less familiar with cocae : elderly people (65 years and more) or widows/widowers people who have completed primary education only the habitants of rural areas Are less familiar with LSD : women elderly people (55 years and over) or widows/widowers people who have completed primary education only the habitants of rural areas Are less familiar with Crack : women adults aged over 45 widows/widowers people who have completed primary education only the habitants of rural areas Are less familiar with Ecstasy : women adults (aged over 25) widows/widowers people who have completed primary education only Are less familiar with the use of glue and Solvents as drugs people aged 55 years and over widows/widowers people who have completed primary education only the habitants of rural areas Note : LSD and Crack are two drugs which are relatively better known privileged social circles Ecstasy is a drug with which young people (65%) are more familiar than adults (45%)

31 Toxicomania Which of the followg drugs have you ever been offered? see figures 3 to 6, pages 58 to 61 DRUGS Offered (%» HASHISCH COCAINE LSD HEROIN ECSTASY GLUE MORPHINE CRACK 18,3 4,7 3,5 2,8 2,5 2,2 1,5 1,1 Differences by country: the followg drugs have been offered more often : hashish (or marijuana) hero (or morphe! cocae. LSD Denmark Spa The Netherlands Denmark Spa France the Netherlands Spa the Netherlands Spa the Netherlands the U.K. (36%) (27%) (28%) ( 5%) ( 6%) ( 5%) ( 5%) (13%) ( 6%) ( 5%) ( 4%) ( 7%)

32 Toxicomania Differences by country the followg drugs have been offered more often crack Ectasy glue (or Solvents) Belgium the U K Belgium Spa the U K France the U K (2%) (2%) (4%) (4%) (6%) (4%) (3%) Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics Hashish and marijuana have been offered more often to men (24%) to people aged under 45 (see figure 5 page 60) 33% of people under 35 years 21 % of people aged between 35 and 44 years 9% of people aged between 45 and 54 years 3% of people aged 55 years and over this gives reason to fear a growg trend for hashish to become commonplace the countries of the European Community to sgle people (33%) to students (34%) privileged social classes (27%) large towns (27%) Morphe or hero nave been offered more often to people aged under 45 years (see figure 6 page 61) 5% of people aged under 35 years 4% of people aged between 35 and 44 years large towns (5%)

33 Toxicomania Cocae has been offered more often : to men (7%) TO people aged under 45 years (see figure 6. page 61) : 9% of people aged under 35 years 5% of people aged between 35 and 44 years 2% of people aged between 45 and 54 years 1 % of people aged 55 years and over to sgle people (9%) to students (9%) to people who have attended higher education (7%) large towns (8%) LSD has been offered more often : to men (5%) to people under 45 years (see figure 6, page 61) 7% of people aged under 25 years 6% of people aged between 25 and 34 years 5% of people aged between 35 and 44 years 1 % of people aged 55 years and over to students (6%) to people who have attended higher education (5%) large towns (6%) Crack has been offered more often : to men (1.5%) to people aged under 35 years (see figure 6, page 61) : 2.5% of people aged under 25 years 2% of people aged between 25 and 34 years large towns (1.5%) Ecstasy has been offered more often : to men (3.5%) to people aged under 35 years (see figure 6, page 61) : 8% of people aged under 25 years 4% of people aged between 25 and 34 years

34 Toxicomania Ecstasy has been offered more often : to sgle people (7%) to students (6%) large towns (4%) Glue and Solvents have been offered more often as a drug : to men (3%) to people aged under 45 years (see figure 6, page 61) : 5% of people aged under 25 years 4% of people aged between 25 and 34 years 2% of people aged between 35 and 44 years to students (4%) to people who have attended higher education (3%) large towns (3%)

35 Toxicomania Which of the followg drugs do you thk are dangerous? see figure 7, page 62 DRUGS Considered to be dangerous (%) (EB ) Considered to be very dangerous (%) (EB ) HEROIN COCAINE MORPHINE HASHISCH LSD CRACK GLUE ECSTASY Note : compared with 1990 (EB34), the danger represented by the consumption of hashish, morphe or glue is better known; by contrast, the danger of usg crack seems to be underestimated 1992 compared with the previous survey. Differences by country: the followg drugs are less often considered to be dangerous : hashish (or marijuana» Belgium Italy France the Netherlands (75%) (69%) (74%) (57%) hero (or morphe) Italy (84%) cocae Belgium Italy the Netherlands (84%) (78%) (84%)

36 Toxicomania Differences by country: the followg drugs are less often considered TO be dangerous :. LSD Italy (57%). crack Germany Greece Italy Portugal (63%) (62%) (50%) (62%). Ecstasy Germany Greece Italy (46%) (47%) (42%). glue (or Solvents) Greece Italy East Germany (48%) (28%) (55%) Differences by country: the followg drugs are more often considered to be dangerous : cocae LSD Denmark Spa Denmark the U.K. (96%) (96%) (94%) (90%) crack the U.K. (92%) glue (or Solvents) Ireland the U.K. (90%) (94%) Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics : The followg drugs are less often considered to be dangerous : Hashish and marijuana by people aged under 35 years (74%) sgle people (69%) students (70%) people who have attended higher education (73%) people of a high social rank (69%) people who have already been offered HASHISH or marijuana (53%)

37 Toxicomania Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics : The followg drugs are less often considered to be dangerous : Hero and morphe by : people who have attended primary education only (89%) Cocae by : people who have attended primary education only (85%) LSD by : people aged over 75 years (66%) people who have attended primary education only (56%) people who live a rural environment (75%) Crack by : people aged 45 years and over : 70% between 45 and 54 years 60% over 54 years people who have attended primary education only (50%) people who live a rural environment (75%) Ecstasy by : people aged 45 years ana over : 60% between 45 ana 54 years 54% over 54 years people who have attended primary education only (45%) people who live a rural environment (75%) Glue and Solvents by : people who have attended primary education only (48%)

38 Toxicomania The followg drugs are more often considered to be dangerous : LSD by : people aged under 45 years (83%) people who live large towns (84%) Crack by :. men (75%) people aged between 15 and 44 years (78%) students (81%) people who have attended higher education (79%) people of a higher social class (77%) Ecstasy by : people aged under 45 years : 68% between 15 and 34 years 64% between 35 and 44 years students (69%)

39 Toxicomania How old were you when any of those drugs were first offered to you? (target = people below age 25) see figure 8. page 63 COUNTRY < 15 yrs (% among years) yrs (% among years) yrs (% among years) DENMARK 10,8 25,5 18,9 SPAIN 9,6 26,4 16,8 UNITED KINGDOM 8,7 16,6 16,9 IRELAND 7,4 1 1,1 16,2 BELGIUM 7,1 1 1,1 12,3 THE NETHERLANDS 7,0 19,8 16,9 FRANCE 6,4 20,6 15,8 PORTUGAL 5,7 13,3 12,1 GD LUXEMBOURG 4,7 13,7 13,4 ITALY 3,7 6,0 7,8 GERMANY 3,5 8,0 7,2 GREECE 1,6 5,2 9,5 EUROPE 6,5 On the basis of these figures, no fewer Than. 15,7 13, young Europeans have been offered drugs by the age of young Europeans have been offered drugs by the age of 15 and young Europeans have been offered drugs by the age of 17 and young Europeans have been offered drugs by the age of 19

40 Toxicomania Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics : Are more often offered drugs by the age of 15 :. boys (8.3%) more than girls (4.6%) large towns (9%) more than semi-urban areas (7%) or a rural environment (4%) Are more often offered drugs at the ages of 15 or 16 : large towns (20%) more than semi-urban areas (16%) or a rural environment (12%). COUNTRY < 19 years (% among years) DENMARK SPAIN FRANCE THE NETHERLANDS UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND PORTUGAL GD LUXEMBOURG BELGIUM ITALY GERMANY GREECE EUROPE

41 Toxicomania Do you thk that these drugs are used often, sometimes or never...? see figure 9, page 64 PLACE Sometimes or often (%) Never (%) Don't know (%) on the street at school at parties pubs, discos, at concerts, festivals, on holidays Differences by country (on the basis of persons terviewed) accordg to the places where the drug is often taken on at on at the street school holidays pubs, discos concerts Italy (70%) Spa (78%) the Netherlands (71 %) the GD of Luxembourg (43%) Portugal (51%) Spa (65%) the United Kgdom (59%) Italy (65%) Spa (69%) Denmark (60%) Spa (64%)

42 Toxicomania Differences by country (on the basis of persons terviewed) accordg to places where drugs are often taken : on holidays Spa (46%) Portugal (48%) Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics : The followg places where drugs are taken are less often given : the street by people aged 65 years and over (47%) pubs, discos, etc. by widows/widowers (44%) or people aged 75 years and over (39%) at concerts by widows/widowers (36%) or people aged 55 years and over (37%) The followg places where drugs are taken are more often given : At school young people aged under 34 years 57% between 15 and 34 years 49% between 35 and 54 years 44% between 55 ana 74 years 35% 75 years and over by sgle people (56%) by students (58%) pubs, discos, etc. by students (57%) At concerts young people aged under 34 years 57% between 15 and 34 years 47% between 35 and 54 years 37% of 55 years and over by sgle people (56%) by students (58%)

43 Toxicomania Do you thk that gettg hold of drug s is...? At European level : 18% of the people terviewed consider that it is difficult to obta drugs (33% 1990) 48% consider that it is quite easy (34% 1990) 33% consider that it is very easy (1 7% 1 990) Note : compared with 1990 (EB34) there is a very clear trend towards easier access to various drugs. Differences by country: the people terviewed the followg countries consider that drugs are relatively more accessible : Italy : difficult (9%) - very easy (40%) Spa : difficult (14%) - very easy (49%) the Netherlands : difficult (9%) - very easy (38%) the people terviewed the followg countries consider that drugs are relatively less accessible : Germany difficult (40%) - very easy (18%) (this opion seems, however to be more marked East Germany)

44 Toxicomania Do you thk that you can get drugs or not through...? (target : can get hold of drug very easily or fairly easily - N = 17,358) see figures 1 0 and 1 1, page 65 and 66 At European level, the percentage of people terviewed who consider that drugs are obtaable on the street? at school 7 on holidays 7 at places where you spend your leisure time 7 through friends or acquatances 7 through a doctor 7 through your husband/wife- partner or a member of your family 7 79% 62% 62% 61% 59% 29% 21% Differences by country are given as a means or obtag drugs More often Less often friends or acquatances Italy France the GD of Luxembourg the Netherlands Portugal friends or acquatances Denmark Germany

45 Toxicomania More often Less often partner or member of family : partner or member of family Italy the GD of Luxembourg the Netherlands Portugal Denmark Germany at school : see table below and figure 1 1, page 66 on the street : on the street :. Germany Italy. Ireland. Spa France the GD of Luxembourg the Netherlands Portugal clubs or other leisure centres clubs or other leisure : Physician : Italy. Denmark the Netherlands Germany Portugal Physician the United Kgdom Germany Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics most of the means available TO obta drugs are more often given by. men. young people (with a very clear gradient accordg to age),e.g. for school. 52% 49% 46% 41% 37% 31% yes yes yes yes yes yes between 15 between 25 between 45 between 55 between 65 over 74 year's and and and and and years years years years years. sgle people students (e g. 55% yes for schools). people of middle or upper social class

46 Toxicomania COUNTRY Consider that drugs are easily available at schools (%) ITALY FRANCE PORTUGAL GD OF LUXEMBOURG THE NETHERLANDS BELGIUM GREECE UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND SPAIN WEST GERMANY DENMARK EAST GERMANY EUROPE

47 Toxicomania The problem of drug can be viewed a variety of ways. In your opion, is it primarly...? At European level, the percentage of people terviewed who agreed with the followg pots : drugs are above all a : EB EB of maturity (drug addicts are maly young people) social (drug addicts are a burden to society) health (drug addicts ru their health) moral (drug addicts need help) crimal (drug addicts crease the public's security) economic (drug addicts spend all their money on drugs) 25% 25% 18% 16% 1 1% 3% - 32% 22% 16% 17% 5% Note : there is no observable difference between the opions recorded and Drugs seem, however, to be considered less often as a social or crimal problem Differences by country: opions faced with the drugs problem : More often given: Less often given: maturity: Spa maturity: the Netherlands social: Denmark

48 Toxicomania More often given: Less often given: health: Spa Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics : drug abuse is more often considered to be a moral problem by young people (under 25) sgle and divorced people (or separated) students people who have attended higher education people of a higher social class drug abuse is more often considered to be a crimal problem by widows/widowers people who have only attended primary or secondary school (compared with students and graduates)

49 Toxicomania In your opion, what is the top priority elimatg the drug problem? At the European level, the percentage of people terviewed who agreed with the followg pots: the first priority is : crackg down on the dealers solvg social and economic problems (unemployment, etc.) providg formation on the drug through the mass media passg new laws improvg the treatment of drug addicts dog more scientific research 61% 13% 8% 5% 3% 1% Note : compared with 1990 (EB34), crackg down on the dealers is even more frequently considered as a priority (52% 1990 and 61% 1992). Differences by country: the followg priorities order TO elimate the drugs problem are more often given : crackg down on dealers : Greece (70%) solvg social problems : Germany (21%)

50 Toxicomania Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics the followg priorities order to elimate the drugs problem are more often given crackg down on dealers by people aged over 54 years (70% agast 54% among people under 25) people who live as a couple or widows/widowers people who have received less schoolg 76% if they have only attended primary education 65% if they have only attended lower secondary education 59% if they have only attended higher secondary education 51 % if they have attended higher education or are still studyg people of a lower social class solvg social problems by people aged under 55 years (15% agast 8% over 54 years) by people who have attended at least secondary education (15% agast 7% among those who have only attended primary education) improvg the treatment of drug addicts by sgle people (6%) by students (6%) by young people aged under 25 (6%) 48 -

51 Toxicomania Do you thk that drug use can lead to...? At European level, the percentage of people terviewed who agreed with the followg pots : takg drugs can lead to : AIDS prostitution health problems social problems violence suicide personality breakdown problems with the law 95% 97% 99% 98% 98% 97% 99% 99% Differences by country: AIDS is relatively less often given as a possible consequence of takg drugs : Belgium (92%) Germany (91%) the Netherlands (92%)

52 Toxicomania Various measures can be taken to dimish the effect of drug use. For each of these measures, please tell me wether you are favour or not. see figure 12, page 67 At the European level, the percentage of people terviewed who agreed with the followg measures : crackg down on drug dealers and traffikers openg drug rehabilitation centers 97% 93% treatg drug addicts with substitute products (methadone, by example) crackg down on or isolatg drug addicts distributg free needles 71% 50% 45% reducg price of the drugs 18% Differences by country Measures more often given Measures less often given Free distribution of syrges Denmark (62%) the GD of Luxembourg (59%) the Netherlands (52%)

53 Toxicomania Measures more often given: Measures less often given: Reducg price of drugs:. Italy (27%) Spa (28%) the Netherlands (29%) Reducg price of drugs: Ireland (8%) Treatment with substitute products: Portugal (59%) Crackg down - isolation of drug addicts Denmark (65%) Ireland (82%) United kgdom (82%) Crackg down - isolation of drug addicts: Greece (22%) Italy (32%) the GD of Luxembourg (22%) Differences accordg to socio-demographic characteristics Measures more often given: Measures less often given Free distribution of syrges' by young people aged under 35 years (53%) by people of a higher social class (52%) by sgle people (54%) by students (55%) by people who have attended higher education (56%) by people who live large towns«52%) Free distribution of syrges by people who have attended primary education only (29%) by people aged 55 years and over (34%)

54 Toxicomania Measures more ofîen given: Measures less often given: Reducg price of drugs: Reducg price of drugs: by widows/widowers (11 %) by manual workers (14%) by elder people: 14% between 55 and 74 years 7% over 75 years by people livg rural areas (15%) Treatment with substitute products: by widows/widowers (64%) by people aged 75 years and over (63%) Crackg down - isolation of drug addicts the class of manual workers (61 %) by widows/widowers (61%) by people aged 65 and over (61%) Crackg down - isolation of drug addicts: by sgle people (43%) by students (36%) by people who have attended higher education (36%) by people aged under 45 years (44%)

55 Toxicomania What do you thk are the ma reasons why some people drk too much alcoholic drks? take drugs? see figure 13, page 68 Reasons for drkg Percentage To forget problems Loneless Family problems Relational problems To behave like friends To give self-confidence Failure at school or work To make friends To improve performances 70,7 58,5 58,2 46,9 41,2 40,2 37,6 23,9 14,3 Reasons for takg drugs Percentage To behave like friends Forget problems Family problems Relational problems Loneless Failure at school or work To give self-confidence To improve performances To make friends 59,9 57,4 48,7 41, ,2 34,6 26,8 24,6-53 -

56 Toxicomania Differences by country: Reasons more often given for takg drugs: Reasons more often given for alcohol abuse. Failure at school or work. Germany Luxembourg Portugal Germany To forget problems Germany Germany Loneless.. Portugal Germany To behave like friends the United Kgdom the Netherlands Spa To improve performances Belgium To give self-confidence the United Kgdom Ireland the United Kgdom Family problems Greece Portugal Germany Greece Relational problems. Greece Belgium Germany Greece

57 ANNEXE l : FIGURES Ever heard about drugs : people < 25 years Ever heard about drugs : < 25 years - adults Drugs; heard of / has been offered : < 25 years - adults Has been offered drug : < 25 years - adults Has been offered drug, by year of birth : hachisch Has been offered drug, by drug and year of birth Drugs considered 10 be dangerous Age when drug first offered (people < 25 years) Drugs : places where used Places where one can get drugs Can one get drugs at school In favour of measures to dimish the effect of drugs Ma reasons for takg drugs

58 EVER HEARD ABOUT DRUGS Europe 1992 People under 25 years COCAINE HEROIN HASHISH CRACK ECSTASY EURO-BAROMETER 37

59 EVER HEARD ABOUT DRUGS Europe 1992 < 25 years Adults HASHISH COCAINE HEROIN CRACK ECSTASY EURO-BAROMETER 37 57

60 DRUGS: HEARD OF / HAS BEEN OFFERED Europe 1992 < 25 years Adults HASHISH COCAINE HEROIN CRACK ECSTASY EURO-BAROMETER 37 58

61 HAS BEEN OFFERED DRUG Europe < 25 years Adults HASHISH COCAINE ECSTASY HEROIN CRACK EURO-BAROMETER 37 59

62 Figure 5 Has been offered drug By drug and year of birth Europe 1992 EURO-BAROMETER 37 60

63 Figure 6 Has been offered drug By drug and year of birth Europe 1992 Year of birth EURO-BAROMETER 37 61

64 DRUGS CONSIDERED TO BE DANGEROUS Europe HEROIN COCAINE MORPHINE HASHISH LSD CRACK GLUE/SOLVENTS ECSTASY EURO-BAROMETER 37 t

65 Age when drug first offered Europe 1992 Consequently a total number of : years young people years young people years young people Percents EURO-BAROMETER 37 63

66 DRUGS : PLACES WHERE USED Europe In the street Pubs / Discos Private parties Concerts / Festivals On holidays At school EURO-BAROMETER 37 64

67 PLACES WHERE ONE CAN GET HOLD OF DRUGS Europe In the street At school Holiday places Leisure places Through friends Through physician Through family EURO-BAROMETER 37 65

68 CAN ONE GET HOLD OF DRUGS AT SCHOOL (percents of yes by country) EUROPE 1992 Italy France Portugal Luxembourg Netherlands Belgium Greece EUROPE United Kgdom Ireland Spa West Germany Denmark East Germany EURO-BAROMETER 37 66

69 IN FAVOUR OF MEASURES TO DIMINISH THE EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE EUROPE 1992 Free Repression Substitutive Openg Repre ssio n needles or isolatg treatment rehabilitation of traffikers distribution drug addicts centers EUROBAROMETRE 37 67

70 MAIN REASONS FOR TAKING DRUGS Europe 1992 Behave like friends Forget problems Family problems Relational problems Loneless Scolar/prof failure Give self confidence Increase performance Make friends EURO-BAROMETER 37

71 ANNEX II : QUESTIONNAIRE

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