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A1 Scottish Crime and Victimisation Survey 2004
The Scottish Crime and Victimisation Survey (previously the Scottish Crime Survey) is a household survey which gathers information about experience of crime, and is designed to provide a complementary measure of crime to police recorded crime statistics. Sweeps were carried out, as part of the British Crime Survey (BCS) in 1982 and 1988, and as the independent SCS in 1993, 1996, 2000, 2003 and the face-to-face SCVS in 2004 (see background information). Since 1993 the Survey has included an additional self-completion component which collects information about illicit drug use and experience of domestic violence. Results relating to the data collected on illicit drug use amongst 16—59 year olds in 2004 are presented below. These findings are based on a short self-completion questionnaire, which asked questions about respondents’ knowledge and illicit use of a range of prescribed and illegal drugs. |
Key Points
Overview of Scottish Crime and Victimisation Survey 2004
- Twenty-four per cent of respondents reported having taken illicit drugs at least once during their lives (Table A1.4). Eight per cent reported using illicit drugs in the last year (Table A1.3).
- Slightly more men reported use of any drug in the year prior to the survey than women (9% compared to 7%). Men report higher or similar use of drugs in the last year across all age groups with the exception of the 20 -24 years. For this age group more women report use for any drug than men (19% compared to 15%) (Table A1.3).
- Younger respondents (16-29 years) reported higher rates of use ever and a year prior to the survey than older respondents (30-59 years). However, the highest rate of ‘ever used’ (42 %) is found in the 25-29 year age group (Table A1.4 and Table A1.3).
- The drug most frequently reported as being used in the year prior to the survey (6%) and ever (22%) was cannabis. Only very small percentages of respondents reported using other drugs (Table A1.3 and Table A1.4).
- Cannabis was the drug reported as having been most frequently offered. Four per cent of respondents said they had been offered cannabis in the month prior to the survey. The next most frequently offered were ecstasy and cocaine at one per cent for both (Table A1.1).
Trends - 2000 and 2004
- The percentage of respondents who reported ever having taken illicit drugs increased between the 2000 (19%) and 2004 (24%) surveys (Table A1.5).
- The percentage of respondents who reported having taken illicit drugs in the year prior to the survey remained stable between the 2000 and 2004 surveys (7% and 8%) (Table A1.5).
Background Information
The face to face part of the 2004 Scottish Crime and Victimisation Survey (previously the Scottish Crime Survey) was conducted on the same basis as the 2003 survey but with a smaller sample size: 3,034 adults aged 16+ were interviewed between July and November 2004. However, in order to maintain a sufficient sample size for the self-completion element, a further 1,973 adults completed an abbreviated version of the main survey. This consisted of a short face-to-face questionnaire with questions on fear of crime and demographics, and these respondents were also asked to undertake the self-completion questionnaire. The overall response rate for the 2004 survey was 67%. Of the 5,007 adults who completed either the 2004 main survey or the 2004 shortened version, 4,424 undertook the self-completion questionnaire. The response rate for self-completion element of the 2004 survey was 59% (based on all of the eligible sample).
The questions asked and the drugs asked about
As in previous sweeps the questions covered the following drugs: amphetamines; cannabis; cocaine; crack; ecstasy; heroin; methadone/physeptone; LSD; magic mushrooms; temazepam; valium; glues, gas or aerosols; anabolic steroids and poppers. The main questions included:
- whether they had ever taken the drug
- whether they had been offered the drug in the last year
- whether they had taken the drug in the last year
- whether they had been offered the drug in the last month
- whether they had taken the drug in the last month.
There are, of course, limitations to self-report data on drug use. It is possible that problematic drug users are less likely to have taken part in the SCVS, because they are less likely to have been at home. Consequently, it is likely that the SCVS underestimates drug use. There may also be a stigma attached to taking some drugs, especially ‘hard’ drugs such as heroin and crack, which again might have resulted in some under-reporting, despite the reassurances of confidentiality.
Further information and background on the 2004 survey and the drug findings have been published by the Scottish Executive1. This is a forthcoming publication.
References
1. Harkins J. and Murray L. Drug Misuse in Scotland: Findings
from the 2003 and 2004 Scottish Crime Surveys. Edinburgh: Scottish
Executive. This is a forthcoming publication.
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