3.Reported percentage use of any illicit drug ever and within the last year among young people aged 16 to 24

The 1996 Scottish Crime Survey (SCS)¹ provides information about levels and patterns of drug taking among adults throughout Scotland. As part of this survey, just over 3,000 respondents aged 16 to 59 self-completed a questionnaire about their knowledge and use of drugs of misuse ².

Indicator

Focussing on the 16 to 24 years age group, Figures 1.4 and 1.5 give an indication of levels of drug taking based on usage ‘ever’ and ‘in the last 12 months’. The survey did not ask about drug use ‘in the last month’. Among male respondents, levels of drug use ‘ever’ were 40.1% for those aged 16 to 19, and 49.5% for those aged 20 to 24. The proportion of females who said they had ‘ever’ used drugs was 38.2% for those under 20, and 42.5% for the age group 20 to 24.

In terms of drug use ‘in the last 12 months’, the percentages for males were 26.4% for those aged 16 to 19, and 37.1% for those aged 20 to 24. The corresponding figures for females were 19.8% and 20.9%.

Comparisons with the last Scottish Crime Survey, in 1993, reveal an increase in levels of reported drug use for males and females in both age groups based on use ‘ever’ and use ‘in the last 12 months. ³

Figure 1.4 : Reported drug use 'ever'

Figure 1.5 : Reported drug use 'in the last 12 months'

Background

In 1996, among those young people who had ‘ever’ used drugs, the average number of substances tried was 4.1 for 16 to 19 year olds and 4.6 for 20 to 24 year olds (males and females). Approximately 40% of all 16 to 24 year olds had ‘ever’ tried cannabis (amphetamines 19%, LSD 16% and ecstasy 15%). One in four (25%) 16 to 24 year olds had used cannabis ‘in the last 12 months’ (amphetamines 12%, ecstasy 9% and LSD 6%).

Notes

As a measure of the prevalence of drug use, and particularly hard drug use, the Scottish Crime Survey has a number of limitations. The findings presented so far are based on a sample of less than 500 adults aged 16 to 24 across Scotland, in each survey year, Table 1.4.

As the SCS is a household survey, it will tend to under-represent certain groups of the population, such as homeless persons and those in prisons, hospitals and other residential establishments. Respondents may choose to under-report their drug use because of its criminal nature or its social unacceptability. Neither the 1993 nor 1996 Survey asked about drug use ‘within the last month’. Nevertheless, the SCS provides a useful minimum prevalence level of drug use in Scotland.