Swedish Drug Users Union

The general opinions attitudeson drug issues.

Report from a public poll.

3rd of December 2008

Per Fernström

Viktor Wemminger

• Swedish Drug Users Union main task is to strengthen and look after the opiate users and/or those who have Opioid Substitution Therapy(methadone/buprenorphine) social and public interests. Swedish Drug Users Union was founded in 2002.

• Target audience: a cross-section of the Swedish population regarding age, sex and geography, in the age group 18-74 years.

• The survey covers 1000 interviews which was conducted over Novus Internet Panel during the period November 27 to December 1 2008.

The general opinions attitudes on drug issues.

INLEDNING – METOD & UTFÖRANDE

The survey was conducted via interviews with a selection of respondents in Novus Web Panel during the period 27 November to 1 December 2008. A total of 1000 respondents aged 18 to 74 years was interviewed.

The selection of the study is made to represent the population of Sweden aged 18 to 74 years.

Novus Opinions Web Panel consists of 12 000 active respondents, spread across the country. Recruitment is done primarily via random telephone interviews. For each survey a stratified selection from the web panel is drawn from the relevant public. In the data processing the results are considered with regard to gender, age and political views.

In any survey, the results are considered to be approximations. The reliability of the results are determined by the questions characteristics in terms of expression and furthermore the form of selection and interview form.

Implementation

INLEDNING – METOD & UTFÖRANDEKey Findings:

The general opinions attitudes on drug issues.

• The study shows that men, young people 18-35 years of age and people in large cities have a slightly more liberal approach towards drugs. They believe in a larger extent than others that, for example, possession or cultivation of cannabis not should be penalized at all or should be considered a minor crime with fines as punishment. They have also tried illegal substances in a greater extent than others.

• The family has the greatest importance, together with doctor/medical care in the handling of problematic drug users. In the first instance it's the family who are most important but the doctor/medical care is primarily seen as the most important. Prevention activities and education is clearly seen as the best methods to counteract drug abuse.

• The majority are in favor of the society to provide sterile needles/syringes but against that society should provide heroin to those who can not be treated in any other way.

Result

8 of 10 believes that growing/possession of cannabis for personal use should be penalized.

1 of 10 believes that no penalty at all should be sentenced.

8%

5%

30%

49%

8%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

I don't know

Other type of punishment

With a fine

With imprisonment

No punishment at all

How would you punish people for growing and/or possession of cannabis for personal use?

84 %

Men: 11%, Age: 18-34 years: 13%

Age: 50-65 years: 56%

Large cities: 35%, Tested drugs: 39%

Of those who tried any drug

most (39%) think that the most appropriate penalty is a fine.

6 of 10 believe that a total war against cannabis isthe most effective method to control cannabis.

15%

3%

10%

15%

58%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Don't know

Full legalization: selling cannabisin supermarkets, no restrictions

on sale

Regulate and tax cannabis, butlimiting sale and use to special

outlets for adults

Decriminalization of cannabisuse: punishing traffickers but not

users

Total war on cannabis: arrestingand imprisoning users and

traffickers

What is the most effective policy to control cannabis in your opinion?

Age: 35-50: 65%, 50-65: 66%

Age: 18-34: 22%, Largew cities: 24%

Men: 13%, Age: 18-34: 19%

Of those who tried any drug 3 of 10 (33 %) believes in a total war on cannabis compared to 6 of 10 (63%) of those who never tried drugs. Total war is belived to be the most effective method in both groups.

50% says that the main argument against using drugs is that it is bad for their health.

3%

0%

7%

8%

32%

50%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Don't know

Because my religion doesn’t allow me to use drugs

Because it is forbidden by law

Because I don’t like the effect of drugs

Because I don't think drugs add anyhing to my life

Because drug use is bad for my health

What is the most important argument that stops you from using illegal drugs?

Men: 10%

1%

10%

15%

35%

1%

28%

12%

39%

20%

17%

16%

19%

36%

9%

20%

76%

4%

14%

1%

6%39% 16%

23%

39%

6%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Church representatives

Social Worker

The police

Doctor/medical care workers

Family member

First Second Third Forth Fifth

Family are most important in handling problematic drug users.Doctor/medical care are most important

when combining first and second hand choice.

Rank the following people according to their importance indealing with problematic drug users.

.

1%

5%

10%

27%

9%

20%

24%

27%

19%

18%

14%

29%

24%

26%

6%

65%

18%

10%

2%

5%57% 12%

32%

28%

10%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Arresting and punishing drug users

Social care and harm reduction servicesfor drug users

Treatment and rehabilitation servicesfor drug users

Arresting and punishing drug traffickers

Prevention and education

First Second Third Fourth Fifth

Prevention and education is considered best to counteract drug abuse.

Rank the following actions after the role you think they have to counteract drug abuse.

More than 50% are in favor of the society to provide sterile needles/syringes.

22%

35%

12%

20%

11%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Fully agree Predominantpositive

Predominantnegative

Do not agree Don't know

To what extent do you agree with the following statement?

a) Society should provide sterile needles to drug users to stop the spread of blood born infections like HIV and hepatitis.

32 %

57 %

Those who are most positive are women (60%), people in larger cities (65%) and the really well-educated (67%). Those who are most opposed are men (37%), older 50-65 years (39%). 3 of 4 who tried drugs are positive to help with sterile needles/syringes.

5%

16%

23%

40%

17%

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Fully agree Predominantpositive

Predominantnegative

Do not agree Don't know

2 out of 3 are against that society should prescribe heroinfor addicts who cannot be treated in any other way.

To what extent do you agree with the following statement?

b) Society should prescribe heroin for those addicts who cannot be treated in any other way?

63 %

21 %

Those who are most positive are men (24%), older 50-65 years (25%). Those who are most opposed are middle-aged 35-50 years (68%).

1 of 3 (35%) who tried drugs are positive towards society prescribing heroin to addicts..

1 out of 5 have tried illegal substances/drugs. 9 out of 10 who have tried illegal substances/drugs tested cannabis.

3%

1%

1%

2%

2%

3%

5%

16%

82%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Others

LSD

Heroin

Mushrooms

Ecstasy

Cocaine

Amphetamines

Cannabis

None

Which of the following illegal substances have you tried?

18% have tried any of the mentioned drugs. 1 out of 4 under 50 years have tried any of these substances (26 %). Approximately the same proportion of people in larger cities have tried (27 %).

35-50 years: 9%

50-65 years: 90%

Men: 19%, -50 years: 23%, Larger cities: 24%

Summary

INLEDNING – METOD & UTFÖRANDESummary

The general opinions attitudes on drug issues

• 8 of 10 believes that growing/possession of cannabis for personal use should be penalized

- 1 of 10 believes that no penalty at all should be sentenced.

• 6 of 10 believe that a total war against cannabis is the most effective method to control cannabis.

• 50% says that the main argument against using drugs is that it’s bad for their health.

• Family are most important in handling problematic drug users.- Doctor/medical care are most important when combining first and second hand choice.

• Prevention and education is considered best to counteract drug abuse.• More than 50% are in favor of the society to provide sterile

needles/syringes.• 2 out of 3 are against that society should prescribe heroin for addicts who

cannot be treated in any other way.• 1 out of 5 have tried illegal substances/drugs.

- 9 out of 10 who have tried illegal substances/drugs tested cannabis.