|
Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
|
|
UK: Gauging the UK's drugs use
BBC Online
Friday 07 Oct 2005 It seems that the UK has never taken the 1980's "Just say no" message to heart. According to the most recent government figures more than a third of people have taken drugs in their lifetime and more than 10% did so in the past year. Experts say that although the UK's use of the most problematic drugs - heroin and crack cocaine - is comparable to other European countries, the British have a binge mentality when it comes to recreational drugs. "We also drink more - it's something cultural about being British," says Mike Linnell from Manchester drugs agency Lifeline. Petra Maxwell from drugs information organisation DrugScope agrees there is "something going on culturally". "It's difficult to say exactly why the UK has such high levels of drug use... but it does seem to be the case that those countries with the longest histories of drug taking also have the highest incidence, and the UK was one of the first European countries to see the emergence of drug misuse." The fact that drug use is relatively high does not mean it is increasing at an alarming rate - the most recent figures suggest that overall usage is stable. However, drug taking is not the easiest subject to get solid data on: users of recreational drugs are naturally reticent at admitting their habits and people addicted to hard drugs tend to have chaotic lifestyles meaning they are difficult to count. "We have very scant evidence about how many people are using drugs," Mr Linnell says. "We can't even give accurate figures of how many people are in treatment for heroin and rock cocaine, let alone magic mushrooms, cannabis and ecstasy." Cannabis 'most popular' Despite these difficulties, the annual British Crime Survey (BCS) is viewed as the primary source for assessing general drug use. Over 20,000 respondents are asked, anonymously, which drugs they have taken in the past month, year or in their lifetime. The latest survey, 2003/04, suggests that 35.6% of people aged 16-59 in England and Wales have used drugs at some point. Twelve per cent have used drugs in the past year and 7.5 per cent in the past month. That equates to 11 million people having used drugs in their lifetime, and just under four million using them in the last year. Cannabis, the survey suggests, remains by far the most popular drug. In a similar survey in Scotland, 27% said they had used drugs in their lifetime and 9% reported using them in the last year. Commentators agree that although figures from both surveys are likely to be underestimates, they provide a useful benchmark. Snapshot "It does give us a broad snapshot of the major trends," says Petra Maxwell. "However... some of the most problematic drug use may not be captured. "Also it is slow to respond to emerging drugs of choice, focusing mainly on the large ones. For example, as it doesn't ask about ketamine... although we know this is increasing in popularity." One recent trend that the BCS has picked up is the rise of cocaine use. Once considered a playboy drug only snorted by the rich and famous, over the past few years it has become much more common. In 1996 just 0.6% of the population had used cocaine in the past year but this has risen to 2.4% - an estimated three-quarters of a million people, making it the second most popular drug after cannabis. Even the well-worn Robin Williams quip: "Cocaine is God's way of telling you you're making too much money" no longer rings true - the price has plummeted with a gram now costing as little as UKP40-50 whereas a few years ago it was UKP80-100. "My mates and I always used to get Es for the weekend but now it's coke. People stay in and do it too," says Suzanne, 27, a lettings agent from London. "At uni, coke was unheard of but in the past three years it has become more available and that means you think it is more acceptable, even normal." COCAINE SEIZURES 2003/04: 20,727 kg 2002/03: 8,767 kg 2001/02: 6,075 kg 2000/01: 7,420 kg 1999/00: 2,525 kg Source: HM Revenue & Customs The rise in cocaine use has concerned health professionals - a 2003 study at St Mary's Hospital in London found that one in three young men who attended A&E with heart pains had cocaine in their system. And British custom officials have noticed the increased demand too, seizing 20,700 kg of cocaine in 2003/04, more than double the 8,700 kg they found in the previous year. But according to the BCS, the biggest rise in the drug's use was seen in the late 1990s and the drugs minister Paul Goggins says, while there is no room for complacency, levels appear to have stabilised. Crack epidemic? Crack and heroin have relatively few users when compared with cocaine - the BCS puts the estimates at 55,000 for crack and 43,000 for heroin - about 0.2% of the population in England and Wales. But these figures are almost certainly underestimates as the survey tends not to reach groups which have a high proportion of users of these drugs - including sex workers and homeless people. Research published in September 2005 suggested that 46,000 people may be using crack in London alone - a much higher number than was previously thought. The authors said this could be the first signs of the long-predicted crack epidemic that has so far largely failed to materialise in this country. Drugs agencies across the country are reporting another development - people who were already using crack or heroin have started using both drugs together in the same syringe, a practice known as speedballing. Crime Crack and heroin are high on the government's list of priorities as their effect on society is disproportionately disruptive, compared with other drug use. The Home Office estimates that three-quarters of crack and heroin addicts steal to fund their habit. But some warn against drawing a direct correlation between crime and drug use. "Research tends to show that involvement in crime always preceded the use of hard drugs," says Chris Allen from Sheffield Hallam University's Centre for Regional Economic and Social Research. "If someone undertakes some shoplifting to buy a wrap of heroin then drugs have caused crime but if you look at it in the longer term and say well that person was involved in crime anyway it complicates it a bit more. "It doesn't cause crime in the simple sense that some people claim." Mr Allen also says that heroin addicts are often more able to control their need for the drug than is widely assumed: many have periods of being "Giro junkies" who wait until they receive their benefits payment before buying their fix. Who is taking drugs? But while crack and heroin use tends to cause the most concern, perhaps the most striking feature revealed by the BCS figures is how drug use penetrates most parts of society. Factors identified as being associated with Class A drug use include earning less than UKP5,000 and earning more than UKP30,000. There was found to be no difference between Class A use on council estates and non council estate areas. People who were educated to A Level (but not degree) reported the highest levels of general drug use. And the top factor associated with drug use? Simply being a young, single, man who goes to the pub three times a week.
After you have finished reading this article you can click here to go back.
|
This page was created by the Cannabis Campaigners' Guide.
Feel free to link to this page!