Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology
14 rue J. Wytsman 1050 Brussels
EUROBAROMETER 37
EUROPEAN WEEK FOR DRUG ABUSE PREVENTION
Preliminary report of data analysis
Reference contract N° 9 2 C V V E 1 230-0
DIRECTORATE-GENERAL FOR
EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL AND SOCIAL AFFAIRS
TABLE OF CONTENT
INTRODUCTION
METHODS OF ANALYSIS
PRESENTATION OF THE REPORT
PART 1 : SUMMARY OF MAIN INFORMATION
PART 11 : SUMMARY TABLES OF REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
PART 1 11 : DETAILED ANALYSIS
. ALCOHOLISM . DRUG ABUSE ANNEXE 1 : FIGURES ANNEXE 2 : QUESTIONNAIRE Pages 1 3 4 5 8 19 20 26 55 69
INTRODUCTION
I . PRESENTATION OF EUROBAROMETER :
Eurobarometer is a public opinion 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 conducting the survey.
The objectives are to inform 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 interviews are conducted twice yearly, in the spring 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 in each country, this type of survey makes it possible to obtain comparable data for all the EC countries. The fact that this instrument has existed for almost twenty years now also lends it a legitimacy and stability which would otherwise be difficult to attain.
The EURO-BAROMETER 32.1 survey, carried out in autumn 1989, tackled a number of different subjects relating to public health, in addition to those traditionally covered. These new subjects were :
- Well-being, State of Health - Europe against cancer - Diet and Dietetics - Smoking
- Alcoholism - Drug abuse - A I D S
This experience was repeated in 1990 in the framework of EURO-BAROMETER 34.1 which was carried out in September-October 1990.
Between March and May 1 992, two successive stages of the Euro-barometer (37 0 and 37 1) made it possible TO interview 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 in fact been included in the Euro-barometer in preparation for European week for drug abuse prevention to be held in November 1992
//. SURVEY ORGANISATION :
The Euro-barometer surveys are carried out by national survey companies In each country, the sample of the population studied ( + /- 1 000 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, points of incidence are selected in proportion to the total population of the regions The postcodes are used as a unit of these points A total of 100 to 150 postcodes are used to form a sample of 1000 interviewees A maximum of 10 interviews are conducted per point of incidence Per family selected one individual 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 in order to constitute the sample
An average of one person in three refuses to participate in the survey In order to keep to the sampling numbers, these non-participants are replaced by others. No information 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 initial 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 in Brussels see inter alia "Euro-barometer 34, Results or the Health Questionnaire, Report for the Directorate-General for Employment and Industrial and Social A f f a i r s , August 19911"
For the Euro-barometer survey, INRA has produced an initial 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
METHOD OF ANA LYSIS
The 14 Euro-barometer 37 questions on Alcoholism and Smoking (see annexe) were analysed first of all individually (simple frequency analysis) and the in relation to a series of socio-demographic parameters (the later having been selected from a set of Euro-barometer parameters)
sex age
level of education marital status
social class (defined by the individuals themselves, in accordance with the interviewer)
place of residence (rural, semi-urban, or large city)
Finally, when it proved useful, the relationship between these different questions was also analysed In presenting the results, only those socio-economic variables which have a significant effect on the questions studied are mentioned
Furthermore, in order to avoid any abusive interpretation of the results, it is important to remember thai the Euro-barometer survey is a public opinion survey This survey is designed to gather the opinions of a sample of people on a number of subjects, but these opinions 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 certain methodological limitations, principally linked to the sampling method employed and the lack of information on those who declined to take part
In order to make up the sample population, persons who failed to respond positively to the invitation 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 certain prudence in interpreting the results
PRESENTA TI0 N OF THE REPORT
This report consists of three distinct sections . a summary of the principal findings, an analysis of the differences by country and/or entities, and a detailed analysis of the results.
The summary of the principal findings provides an interpretation of the most pertinent data likely to influence European drug abuse policy. This summary is based on the analysis by country and/or geographic entity on the one hand, summarised in the second section in the form of tables, and an in-depth analysis on the other hand which records the principal observations in the third section (only significant differences likely to be of practical interest 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 remain between the two regions.
If necessary, additional information may be obtained by contacting : DG for Employment and Industrial and Social A f f a i r s
The Health and Safety Department of the Commission of the European Communities in Luxembourg (Jean Monnet Building, 2920 Luxembourg, tel. . 352/430 11)
INRA (EUROPE) in Brussels ( 1 8 av R Vandendnessche, 1 1 50 Brussels, tel . 32/2/772 44 44).
the epidemiology department of the Institute for Hygiene and Epidemiology (rue Juliette Wijtsman 14, 1050 Brussels. Belgium, telephone 32 2 / 6 4 2 53 7 1 )
SECTION 7: SUMMARY OF THE PRINCIPAL FINDINGS
1. ALCOHOLISM
We can observe a certain homogeneity at European level as regards the frequency with which alcoholic drinks are taken. Only Denmark, and perhaps Belgium, seem to stand out as having a greater number of people who state thai they regularly take an alcoholic drink. The profile of people who drink regularly is as follows .
male
aged 25 to 54 years higher education
membership of a well-off social class.
The average alcohol consumption during the week is significantly higher in four countries (Greece, France, Luxembourg and Portugal). This excess continues during the weekend in Greece and France There is no significant difference on this subject between 1990 (Euro-barometer 34) and 1992 - except for Italy where the replies are too conflicting for meaningful interpretation However, the fact remains that alcohol consumption is higher among
men
adults and
people belonging to a well-off social class.
With the exception of Denmark and East Germany, we can see in most European countries an underestimation of how alcohol impairs driving capacity. When you take account of the share of road traffic accidents in mortality figures, this should lead to a strengthening of programmes designed to educate and prevent people from drinking and driving, especially in Italy, Greece, France and Belgium
By the age of 15, more than one quarter of Europeans have already started to drink alcoholic drinks (61 % in Denmark), and three-quarters by the age of 1 9 1 This shows just how commonplace alcohol consumption in fact is, in particular in Denmark, but also in Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Greece, the United Kingdom and France, where eight to nine adolescents in ten have already begun to consume alcoholic drinks by this age
2. DRUG ABUSE
1. Knowledge :
MOST drugs are relatively well known in the European Community. Two drugs are, however, the exception : crack and ecstasy which have been introduced only recently, but which nevertheless seem to be better known in Ireland and the United Kingdom. The replies nevertheless reveal some notable differences :
drugs are less known in rural areas
LSD and crack are more common in 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 Spain where, for example, cocaine is more often considered to be dangerous despite the fact that it is not very well known) and according to socio-demograpnic characteristics Thus, the following groups are more sensitive to the dangers of drugs
young people
people belonging to a well-off social group students
This relationship between knowledge of a drug and the estimated danger associated with it is not confirmed in the case of hashish On the contrary, people to whom marijuana has already been offered are less inclined to consider the drug dangerous This perhaps reflects, as in the case of alcohol but 10 a lesser extent, a tendency 'or the consumption of marijuana/hashish to become commonplace in the European Community
The principal e f f e c t s of drug abuse are weil known among the population, apart from perhaps the risk of contracting AIDS in certain countries (Belgium Germany ana the Netherlands)
2. Proximity :
Almost one person in f i v e has been o f f e r e d hashish 127% of the U n d e r - 2 5 ) , ana the percentage is even higher in Denmark. Spain ana me Netherlands For the other drugs, the level is much lower between one and three per cent of the people interviewed Certain drugs are, however, offered more often
ecstasy in Belgium
heroin in Denmark
heroin, cocaine and ecstasy in Spain heroin in France
heroin in the Netherlands
LSD, crack and ecstasy in the United Kingdom
-People who are more frequently offered drugs have the following profile
male
student
aged under 35 (for heroin, hashish and cocaine) 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. Certain 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 Spain we see, on the other hand, a high proportion of young people confronted more specifically by the problem of drugs while in countries such as Italy, Germany and Greece they seem to have been spared this problem. Boys living in an urban environment are the ones solicited the most.
Two-thirds of those interviewed consider that it is easy to find 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 in schools. The replies recorded for Denmark are, however, confusing on this point. 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 interviewed 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 principally young people) and a problem of society (drug addicts are a burden on society)
The majority of people in every country are in favour of measures to be taken against drug trafficking. There is clearly no consensus as regards means of prevention based on information, social promotion or changes to the legislation
Although everyone approves the setting up of special centres to treat drug addicts, the prescribing of substitute drugs as part of the treatment remains a subject of controversy (70% of people in favour) The free distribution of needles is only accepted by young people, intellectuals and the inhabitants of large towns Elderly people or those with a lower level of education are more in favour of the cracking down on a n d / o r isolation of drug addicts
-SECTION I I : DIFFERENCE BY COUNTRY
The following tables present the differences between the various countries and/or entities of the European Community. Germany, for example, has been split into two separate entities (East and West) in order to study any differences between these two regions which only recently united.
Interpretation
1. The symbols " + + + " which are given in the tables indicate that for the subject in question that country is significantly above the European average (which means, for example, that the people interviewed in this country are clearly more in favour of information campaigns on drug abuse).
2. By contrast, the symbols " - - -" mean that the people interviewed in a given country are clearly below the European average. For example . on average, alcohol consumption in this country is below the European a v e r a g e )
3. Finally, the empty boxes indicate that the results observed among the persons interviewed in the corresponding country do not differ significantly from the European average.
For further details, please refer 10 section three which sets out the principal results for each of the questions.
-ALCOHOL : 1. How many units of alcohol ( * ) do you drink 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 drink 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 wine = 1 unit and one glass of alcohol = 2 units. ( * * ) mean at the European level
ALCOHOL : (target = people under age 25)
DRUG ABUSE : (target = people below age 25)
DRUG ABUSE :
Do you think that you can get drugs very easily or fairly easily or not through friends or acquaintances? On the street? At school? At places where you spend your leisure time?
DRUG ABUSE
DRUG ABUSE
Various measures can be taken to diminish the e f f e c t of drug use. For each of these measures, please tell me lether you are in favour or not: distributing f r e e needles, reducing price of the drugs, treating drug addicts with substitute products (methadone, by example), cracking down on or isolating drug addicts.
PART III : DETAILLED ANAL YSIS
1. Alcoholism
2. Drug abuse - toxicomania
Alcoholism
ALCOHOLISM
Could you tell me which of the alcoholic drinks on this card you have never drunk? you used to drink regularly but do not anymore? you regularly drink nowadays?
Drinks : Beer Wine Others All Don't drink ( % ) 31 24 29 22 38 28 16 18
Used to drink ( % ) Drink (%)
45 49 34
66
Differences by country: drink more regularly :
beer in Belgium ( 5 4 % ) , in Denmark ( 7 3 % ) and in West Germany ( 5 4 % ) wine in Italy (60%)
spirits in Belgium (44%), in Denmark ( 6 2 % ) and in France (48%) all alcoholic drinks in Belgium ( 7 1 % ) and Denmark (89%)
D i f f e r e n c e s according to socio-demographic characteristics
Drink all alcoholic drinks more regularly men ( 7 8 % ) more than women ( 4 3 % )
people between 25 and 54 years more than others ( 7 2 % ) people who have attended higher education ( 7 6 % ) people from a higher social class ( 7 6 % )
-Alcoholism
Drink beer more regularly
men (78%) more than women ( 5 5 % ) people between 15 and 44 years (52%) single people more than others (53%) people from a higher social class (53%) Drink wine more regularly
men ( 5 5 % ) more than women (44%) people between 35 and 54 years (57%)
people living as a couple or divorced -separated ( 5 3 % )
people who have attended a course of higher secondary or university education ( 5 7 % ) people from a higher social class (61%)
Drink 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%)
-Alcoholism
How many units of alcohol ( * ) do you drink 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 wine = 1 unit and one glass of alcohol = 2 units
COUNTRY
GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG GREECE PORTUGAL FRANCE ITALY GERMANY BELGIUM SPAIN UNITED KINGDOM THE NETHERLANDS IRELAND DENMARK EUROPE Average Consumption (units) per weekday in 1 992 (EB37) 1,9 1,53 1,43 1,33 1,23 1 , 1 1 1,1 1,0 0,94 0,92 0,67 0,57 1,1 1 Average Consumption (units) per weekday in 1 990 (EB34) 1,9 1,5 1,4 1,8 4,0 1,0 1,1 1,05 1,2 1,0 1,07 0,8 1,7
Differences according 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
-Alcoholism COUNTRY GREECE IRELAND FRANCE . THE NETHERLANDS GERMANY DENMARK BELGIUM UNITED KINGDOM
GRAND DUCHY OF LUXEMBOURG SPAIN PORTUGAL EUROPE A V E R A G E CONSUMPTION (units) at the weekend 2,87 2,59 2,24 2,19 2,18 2,17 2,16 2,12 2,03 2,01 1,76 2,17
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics :
Alcohol consumption is higher at the weekend among :
men (2.7 u n i t s ) t h a n among women ( 1 . 4 )
people aged between 15 and 64 years ( 2 3 u n i t s ) t h a n among people aged over 64 ( 1 . 4
units)
people from a higher social class ( 2 . 4 u n i t s ) t h a n among others (2 u n i t s )
-Alcoholism
After how many units of alcohol does your ability to drive become impaired?
COUNTRY ITALY GREECE FRANCE BELGIUM GD LUXEMBOURG GERMANY THE NETHERLANDS IRELAND PORTUGAL SPAIN DENMARK UNITED KINGDOM EUROPE
Average no. of units - inability to drive
4,34 3,93 3,06 2,68 2,49 2,17 2 , 1 4 2,1 2,08 2,04 1,89 1,46 2,45
Note : by way of comparison. it is important to noie that European drinking and driving limits are set at 12 grams of alcohol This is equivalent TO two units of alcohol (2 glasses of beer or 2 glasses of wine and an alcohol level of 0.5 grams.
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics .
Impaired driving 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) single people (2.8 units)
people of a higher social class (middle classes and a b o v e ) . 2.8 units
-Alcoholism
How old were you when you started to drink alcoholic drinks for the first time? (target = people below age 25)
COUNTRY DENMARK GERMANY GD LUXEMBOURG THE NETHERLANDS GREECE PORTUGAL BELGIUM UNITED KINGDOM ITALY FRANCE SPAIN IRELAND EUROPE 13-14 yrs (% among 1 5-24 yrs) 61 38 32 31 30 25 25 24 24 22 22 7 27 15-16 yrs (% among 1 7-24 yrs) 29 28 35 43 35 26 33 33 20 37 36 24 32 17-18 yrs (% among 1 9-24 yrs) 7 6 27 17 31 28 26 34 21 28 27 42 21 < 19 yrs (% among 19-24 yrs) 92 72 84 88 85 69 74 86 58 86 77 74 77
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics :
men start to drink earlier than women : 63% before the age of 17 compared with 48% in working class environments and among families of a higher social class, young people also start to drink earlier.
-DRUG ABUSE - TOXIC0 MANIA
Toxicomania
Which of the following drugs have you ever heard off?
see f i g u r e s 1 to 3, pages 56 to 58 DRUGS HASHISH -MARIJUANA HEROIN COCAINE MORPHINE LSD GLUE CRACK ECSTASY HAVE HEARD OF (%) (EB37 - 1992) 95 94 93 89 77 70 64 48 HAVE HEARD OF (%) (EB34 - 1990) 89 94 93 89 78 70 62
Note : there is no s i g n i f i c a n t d i f f e r e n c e between 1 990 ( E B 3 4 ) and 1 992 ( E B 3 7 ) as regards the level of knowledge of the d i f f e r e n t d r u g s .
Differences by country the following drugs have been heard of more often • LSD in Denmark ( 9 3 % ) and the United kingdom ( 9 5 % )
Crack in Ireland (81 %) and the United Kingdom (93%)
Ecstasy in Belgium (71 %), in Ireland (76%) and The United Kingdom (93%)
. Glue (and Solvents) in Denmark (89%), France (89%), Ireland (93%) and the United Kingdom ( 9 7 % )
D i f f e r e n c e s according to socio-demographic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s
Are less f a m i l i a r with H A S H I S H and m a r i j u a n a
the i n h a b i t a n t s of r u r a l areas
-Toxicomania
Are less familiar with morphine or heroin :
elderly people (75 and over) or widows/widowers people who have completed primary education only The inhabitants of rural areas
Are less f a m i l i a r with cocaine :
elderly people (65 years and more) or widows/widowers people who have completed p r i m a r y education only the inhabitants of rural areas
Are less f a m i l i a r with LSD : women
elderly people (55 years and over) or widows/widowers people who have completed primary education only the inhabitants of rural areas
Are less f a m i l i a r with Crack : women
adults aged over 45 widows/widowers
people who have completed primary education only the inhabitants of rural areas
Are less f a m i l i a r with Ecstasy : women
adults (aged over 25) widows/widowers
people who have completed p r i m a r y e d u c a t i o n 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 inhabitants of rural areas
Note : LSD and Crack are two drugs which are r e l a t i v e l y better k n o w n in p r i v i l e g e d social circles Ecstasy is a drug with which young people ( 6 5 % ) are more f a m i l i a r t h a n adults ( 4 5 % )
-Toxicomania
Which of the following drugs have you ever been offered?
see figures 3 to 6, pages 58 to 61
DRUGS HASHISCH COCAINE LSD HEROIN ECSTASY GLUE MORPHINE CRACK Offered (%» 18,3 4,7 3,5 2,8 2,5 2,2 1,5 1,1
Differences by country: the following drugs have been offered more often :
hashish (or marijuana)
heroin (or morphine!
cocaine . LSD in in in in in in in in in in in in Denmark Spain The Netherlands Denmark Spain France the Netherlands Spain the Netherlands Spain the Netherlands the U.K. ( 3 6 % ) ( 2 7 % ) ( 2 8 % ) ( 5%) ( 6%) ( 5%) ( 5%) (13%) ( 6%) ( 5%) ( 4%) ( 7%) 29
-Toxicomania Differences by country the following drugs have been offered more often
crack
Ectasy
glue (or Solvents)
in Belgium in the U K in Belgium in Spain in the U K in France in the U K (2%) (2%) (4%) (4%) (6%) (4%) (3%)
Differences according 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 y e a r s
21 % of people aged between 35 and 44 years 9% of people aged between 45 and 54 years 3% of people aged 55 y e a r s and over
this gives reason to fear a growing trend for hashish to become commonplace in the countries of the European Community
to single people ( 3 3 % ) to students (34%)
in privileged social classes ( 2 7 % ) in large towns ( 2 7 % )
Morphine or heroin nave been o f f e r e d more often
to people aged under 4 5 y e a r s (see figure 6 page 61) 5% of people aged under 35 years
4% of people aged between 35 and 44 years in large towns (5%)
-Toxicomania
Cocaine 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 single people (9%) to students (9%)
to people who have attended higher education (7%) in 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 % ) in large towns (6%)
Crack has been offered more o f t e n :
to men ( 1 . 5 % )
to people aged under 35 y e a r s (see figure 6, page 61) : 2.5% of people aged under 25 years
2% of people aged between 25 and 34 years in large towns (1.5%)
Ecstasy has been offered more often :
to men (3.5%)
to people aged under 35 years (see figure 6, page 6 1 ) : 8% of people aged under 25 years
4% of people aged between 25 and 34 years
-Toxicomania
Ecstasy has been offered more often : to single people (7%)
to students (6%) in 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%) in large towns (3%)
-Toxicomania
Which of the following drugs do you think are dangerous?
see figure 7, page 62
DRUGS HEROIN COCAINE MORPHINE HASHISCH LSD CRACK GLUE ECSTASY Considered to be dangerous (%) (EB37 - 1992) 89 86 81 79 76 69 65 59 Considered to be very dangerous (%) (EB34 - 1990) 88 82 60 48 71 82 50
Note : compared with 1990 (EB34), the danger represented by the consumption of hashish, morphine or glue is better known; by contrast, the danger of using crack seems to be under-estimated in 1992 compared with the previous survey.
Differences by country:
the following drugs are less often considered to be dangerous : hashish (or marijuana»
heroin (or morphine) cocaine in in in in in in in in Belgium Italy France the Netherlands Italy Belgium Italy the Netherlands ( 7 5 % ) (69%) (74%) ( 5 7 % ) (84%) (84%) (78%) (84%) 33
-Toxicomania
Differences by country:
the following drugs are less often considered TO be dangerous :
. LSD . crack
. Ecstasy
. glue (or Solvents)
in in in in in in in in in in in Italy Germany Greece Italy Portugal Germany Greece Italy Greece Italy East Germany (57%) (63%) (62%) (50%) (62%) (46%) (47%) (42%) (48%) ( 2 8 % ) (55%) Differences by country:
the following drugs are more often considered to be dangerous : cocaine
LSD
crack
glue (or Solvents)
in in in in in in in Denmark Spain Denmark the U.K. the U.K. Ireland the U.K. (96%) (96%) (94%) (90%) ( 9 2 % ) (90%) (94%)
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics :
The following drugs are less often considered to be dangerous : Hashish and marijuana by
people aged under 35 years (74%) single people (69%)
students (70%)
people who have attended higher education ( 7 3 % ) people of a high social rank (69%)
people who have already been offered HASHISH or marijuana (53%) 34
-Toxicomania Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics :
The following drugs are less often considered to be dangerous : Heroin and morphine by :
people who have attended primary education only (89%) Cocaine 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 in 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 in a r u r a l e n v i r o n m e n t ( 7 5 % )
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 ( 4 5 % ) people who live in a rural environment ( 7 5 % )
Glue and Solvents by :
people who have attended primary education only (48%)
-Toxicomania
The following drugs are more often considered to be dangerous : LSD by :
people aged under 45 years (83%) people who live in 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%)
-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 1 5-24 years) DENMARK SPAIN UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND BELGIUM THE NETHERLANDS FRANCE PORTUGAL GD LUXEMBOURG ITALY GERMANY GREECE EUROPE 6,5 10,8 9,6 8,7 7,4 7,1 7,0 6,4 5,7 4,7 3,7 3,5 1,6 15-16 yrs (% among 17-24 years) 25,5 26,4 16,6 1 1,1 1 1,1 19,8 20,6 13,3 13,7 6,0 8,0 5,2 15,7 17-18 yrs (% among 19-24 years) 18,9 16,8 16,9 16,2 12,3 16,9 15,8 12,1 13,4 7,8 7,2 9,5 13,8 On the basis of these figures, no fewer Than .
550.000 1.400.000 1.350.000 3.500.000 young young young young Europeans Europeans Europeans Europeans have have have have been been been been offered offered o f f e r e d offered drugs drugs drugs drugs by by by by the the the the age age age age of of of of 15 15 and 16 17 and 18 19
Toxicomania
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics : Are more often offered drugs by the age of 15 :
. boys (8.3%) more than girls (4.6%) in large towns (9%) more than semi-urban areas (7%) or in a rural environment (4%)
Are more often offered drugs at the ages of 15 or 16 : in large towns (20%) more than
semi-urban areas (16%) or in a rural environment ( 1 2 % ) . COUNTRY DENMARK SPAIN FRANCE THE NETHERLANDS UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND PORTUGAL GD LUXEMBOURG BELGIUM ITALY GERMANY GREECE EUROPE < 19 years (% among 19-24 years) 52 48 41 41 36 32 29 28 26 17 17 15 32 38
-Toxicomania
Do you think that these drugs are used often, sometimes or never ... ?
see figure 9, page 64
PLACE on the street at school at parties in pubs, discos, ... at concerts, festivals, on holidays Sometimes or often (%) 86 81 85 87 80 75 Never (%) 3 6 3 2 5 5 Don't know (%) 1 1 13 12 11 15 20
Differences by country (on the basis of persons interviewed)
according to the places where the drug is often taken on at on in at the street school holidays pubs, discos concerts in in in in in in in in in in in Italy (70%) Spain (78%) the Netherlands (71 %) the GD of Luxembourg (43%) Portugal ( 5 1 % ) Spain ( 6 5 % )
the United Kingdom ( 5 9 % ) Italy ( 6 5 % )
Spain (69%) Denmark (60%) Spain (64%)
-Toxicomania
Differences by country (on the basis of persons interviewed) according to places where drugs are often taken :
on holidays in Spain (46%)
in Portugal (48%)
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics :
The following places where drugs are taken are less often given : in the street
by people aged 65 years and over (47%) in pubs, discos, etc.
by widows/widowers (44%) or people aged 75 years and over ( 3 9 % ) at concerts
by widows/widowers (36%) or people aged 55 years and over (37%) The following 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 single people ( 5 6 % ) by students (58%) in 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 single people ( 5 6 % ) by students (58%)
-Toxicomania
Do you think that getting hold of drug s is ... ?
At European level : 18% of the people interviewed consider that it is difficult to obtain drugs (33% in 1990)
48% consider that it is quite easy (34% in 1990) 33% consider that it is very easy ( 1 7% in 1 990)
Note : compared with 1990 (EB34) there is a very clear trend towards easier access to various drugs .
Differences by country:
the people interviewed in the following countries consider that drugs are relatively more accessible :
in Italy : difficult (9%) - very easy (40%) in Spain : difficult ( 1 4 % ) - very easy (49%) in the Netherlands : difficult (9%) - very easy (38%)
the people interviewed in the following countries consider that drugs are relatively less accessible :
in Germany difficult (40%) - very easy ( 1 8 % )
(this opinion seems, however to be more marked in East Germany)
-Toxicomania
Do you think 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 interviewed who consider that drugs are obtainable
on the street? at school7
on holidays7
at places where you spend your leisure time7
through friends or acquaintances7
through a doctor7
through your husband/wife- partner or a member of your family7
79% 62% 62% 61% 59% 29% 21% Differences by country
are given as a means or obtaining drugs
More often Less often
friends or acquaintances in Italy in France in the GD of Luxembourg in the Netherlands in Portugal friends or acquaintances in Denmark in Germany 42
-Toxicomania
More often Less often
partner or
in
in
in
in
member of f a m i l y :
Italy
the GD of Luxembourg
the Netherlands
Portugal
partner or
in
in
member of f a m i l y •
D e n m a r k
G e r m a n y
at school : see table below and figure 1 1, page 66
on the street : on the street :
. in Germany in Italy . in Ireland . in Spain in France in the GD of Luxembourg in the Netherlands in Portugal
clubs or other leisure centres • clubs or other leisure :
in Italy . in Denmark in the Netherlands in Germany in Portugal
Physician : Physician
in the United Kingdom in G e r m a n y
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics
most of the means available TO obtain drugs are more often given by
. men
. young people (with a very clear gradient according to a g e ) , e . g . f o r school .
52% 49% 46% 41% 37% 31% yes yes yes yes yes yes between between between between between over 74 15 25 45 55 65 year and and and and and 's 24 44 54 64 74 years years years years years
. single people
students (e g. 55% yes for schools) . people of middle or upper social class
-Toxicomania COUNTRY ITALY FRANCE PORTUGAL GD OF LUXEMBOURG THE NETHERLANDS BELGIUM GREECE UNITED KINGDOM IRELAND SPAIN WEST GERMANY DENMARK EAST GERMANY EUROPE
Consider that drugs are easily available at schools (%)
88 87 85 84 80 78 62 52 42 38 36 23 16 62 44
-Toxicomania
The problem of drug can be viewed in a variety of ways. In your opinion, is it primarly ... ?
At European level, the percentage of people interviewed who agreed with the following points : drugs are above all a :
of maturity (drug addicts are mainly young people) social (drug addicts are a burden to society) health (drug addicts ruin their health) moral (drug addicts need help)
criminal (drug addicts increase the public's insecurity) economic (drug addicts spend all their money on drugs)
EB37 1992 25% 25% 18% 16% 1 1% 3% EB34 1990 -32% 22% 16% 17% 5%
Note : there is no observable difference between the opinions recorded in 1 990 and in 1 992. Drugs seem, however, to be considered less often as a social or criminal problem in 1992.
Differences by country:
opinions faced with the drugs problem :
More often given:
maturity: in Spain
social:
in Denmark
Less often given:
maturity:
in the Netherlands
-Toxicomania
More often given:
health:
in Spain
Less often given:
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics :
drug abuse is more often considered to be a moral problem by young people (under 25)
single 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 criminal problem by widows/widowers
people who have only attended primary or secondary school (compared with students and graduates)
-Toxicomania
In your opinion, what is the top priority in eliminating the drug problem?
At the European level, the percentage of people interviewed who agreed with the following points: the first priority is :
cracking down on the dealers
solving social and economic problems (unemployment, etc.) providing information on the drug through the mass media passing new laws
improving the treatment of drug addicts doing more scientific research
61% 13% 8% 5% 3% 1%
Note : compared with 1990 (EB34), cracking down on the dealers is even more frequently considered as a priority (52% in 1990 and 61% in 1992).
Differences by country:
the following priorities in order TO eliminate the drugs problem are more often given : cracking down on dealers : in Greece (70%)
solving social problems : in Germany ( 2 1 % )
-Toxicomania
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics
the following priorities in order to eliminate the drugs problem are more often given
cracking down on dealers by
people aged over 54 years (70% against 54% among people under 25) people who live as a couple or widows/widowers
people who have received less schooling
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 studying
people of a lower social class
solving social problems
by people aged under 55 years ( 1 5 % against 8 % over 54 y e a r s )
by people who have attended at least secondary education ( 1 5 % against 7% among those who have only attended primary education)
improving the treatment of drug addicts
by single people ( 6 % )
by students ( 6 % )
by young people aged under 25 ( 6 % )
-Toxicomania
Do you think that drug use can lead to ... ?
At European level, the percentage of people interviewed who agreed with the following points : taking 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 taking drugs : in Belgium ( 9 2 % )
in Germany ( 9 1 % ) in the Netherlands ( 9 2 % )
-Toxicomania
Various measures can be taken to diminish the effect of drug use. For each of these measures, please tell me wether you are in favour or not.
see figure 12, page 67
A t the European level, the percentage of people interviewed who agreed with the following measures :
cracking down on drug dealers and traffikers opening drug rehabilitation centers
treating drug addicts with substitute products (methadone, by example) cracking down on or isolating drug addicts
distributing free needles reducing price of the drugs
97% 93% 71% 50% 45% 18% Differences by country
Measures more often given
Free distribution of syringes in Denmark (62%)
in the GD of Luxembourg ( 5 9 % ) in the Netherlands ( 5 2 % )
Measures less often given
-Toxicomania
Measures more often given:
Reducing price of drugs:
. in Italy (27%)
in Spain (28%)
in the Netherlands ( 2 9 % )
Cracking down - isolation of drug
addicts-in Denmark (65%)
in Ireland (82%)
in United kingdom (82%)
Measures less often given:
Reducing price of drugs:
in Ireland (8%)
Treatment with substitute products:
in Portugal (59%)
Cracking down - isolation of drug
addicts:
in Greece ( 2 2 % )
in Italy (32%)
in the GD of Luxembourg ( 2 2 % )
Differences according to socio-demographic characteristics
Measures more often given:
Free distribution of syringes' by young people aged under 35 years ( 5 3 % )
by people of a higher social class (52%)
by single people ( 5 4 % ) by students (55%)
by people who have attended higher education ( 5 6 % ) by people who live in large towns« 52%)
Measures less often given
Free distribution of syringes by people who have attended primary education only (29%) by people aged 55 years and over (34%)
-Toxicomania
Measures more ofîen given: Measures less often given:
Reducing price of drugs:
Cracking down - isolation of drug addicts
the class of manual workers (61 %) by widows/widowers ( 6 1 % ) by people aged 65 and over ( 6 1 % )
Reducing 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 living in rural areas ( 1 5 % )
Treatment with substitute products: by widows/widowers (64%) by people aged 75 years and over (63%)
Cracking down - isolation of drug addicts:
by single people (43%) by students (36%)
by people who have attended higher education (36%)
by people aged under 45 years
(44%)
-Toxicomania
What do you think are the main reasons why some people drink too much alcoholic drinks? take drugs?
see figure 13, page 68
Reasons for drinking
To forget problems Loneliness
Family problems Relational problems To behave like friends To give self-confidence
Failure at school or work To make friends
To improve performances
Reasons for taking drugs
To behave like friends Forget problems Family problems Relational problems Loneliness
Failure at school or work To give self-confidence To improve performances To make friends Percentage 70,7 58,5 58,2 46,9 41,2 40,2 37,6 23,9 14,3 Percentage 59,9 57,4 48,7 41,4 39.5 35,2 34,6 26,8 24,6 53
-Toxicomania
Differences by country:
Reasons more often given for taking drugs:
Failure at school or work . in Germany in Luxembourg in Portugal To forget problems in Germany Loneliness . . in Portugal To behave like friends
in the United Kingdom
To improve performances in Belgium
To give self-confidence in the United Kingdom
Family problems in Greece in Portugal Relational problems
. in Greece
Reasons more often given for alcohol abuse . in Germany in Germany in Germany in the Netherlands in Spain in Ireland
in the United Kingdom
in Germany in Greece in Belgium in Germany in Greece 54
-ANNEXE l : FIGURES
1.
2.
3.
4.5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
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 f a v o u r of measures to d i m i n i s h the effect of drugs
Main reasons for taking drugs
-EVER HEARD ABOUT DRUGS
Europe 1992
People under 25 years
COCAINE
HEROIN
HASHISH
CRACK
ECSTASY
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 3 7EVER HEARD ABOUT DRUGS
Europe 1992
< 25 years Adults
HASHISH
COCAINE
HEROIN
CRACK
ECSTASY
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 3 757
DRUGS: HEARD OF / HAS BEEN OFFERED
Europe 1992
< 25 years Adults
HASHISH
COCAINE
HEROIN
CRACK
ECSTASY
58 E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 37HAS BEEN OFFERED DRUG
Europe - 1992
< 25 years Adults
HASHISH
COCAINE
ECSTASY
HEROIN
CRACK
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 37 59Figure 5
Has been offered drug
By drug and year of birth
Europe 1992
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 37
Figure 6
Has been offered drug
By drug and year of birth
Europe 1992
Year of birth
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 37
DRUGS CONSIDERED TO BE DANGEROUS
Europe - 1992
HEROIN
COCAINE
MORPHINE
HASHISH
LSD
CRACK
GLUE/SOLVENTS
ECSTASY
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 3 7 £tAge when drug f i r s t o f f e r e d
Europe 1992
C o n s e q u e n t l y a t o t a l n u m b e r of :
13 - 14 years
15 - 16 years
17 - 18 years
550 000 young people
1 400 000 young people
1 350 000 young people
P e r c e n t s
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 37 63DRUGS : PLACES WHERE USED
Europe - 1992
In the s t r e e t
Pubs / Discos
Private parties
C o n c e r t s / Festivals
On holidays
At s c h o o l
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 3 7 64PLACES WHERE ONE CAN GET HOLD OF DRUGS
Europe - 1992
In the street
At school
Holiday places
Leisure places
Through f r i e n d s
Through physician
Through f a m i l y
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 37 65CAN ONE GET HOLD OF DRUGS AT SCHOOL
(percents of yes by c o u n t r y )
EUROPE 1992
Italy
France
Portugal
Luxembourg
Netherlands
Belgium
Greece
EUROPE
United Kingdom
Ireland
Spain
West Germany
Denmark
East Germany
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 3 7 66IN FAVOUR OF MEASURES TO DIMINISH
THE EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE
EUROPE 1992
F r e e n e e d l e s d i s t r i b u t i o n R e p r e s s i o n or i s o l a t i n g d r u g a d d i c t s S u b s t i t u t i v e t r e a t m e n t O p e n i n g r e h a b i l i t a t i o n c e n t e r s R e p r e s s i o n o f t r a f f i k e r s E U R O B A R O M E T R E 3 7 67MAIN REASONS FOR TAKING DRUGS
Europe 1992
Behave like friends
Forget problems
Family problems
Relational problems
Loneliness
S c o l a r / p r o f failure
Give self c o n f i d e n c e
Increase p e r f o r m a n c e
Make f r i e n d s
E U R O - B A R O M E T E R 3 7ANNEX II : QUESTIONNAIRE