Full Factsheet: Drugs

[Also see Full Fact's recent article on the facts behind the drugs debate]

Has there been an increase or decrease in drug use?

Decrease. According to government statistics, drug use in England and Wales is at its lowest rate under current measurements since 1996. An estimated 8.9 per cent of adults (aged 16-59) had used an illicit drug in the last year [Source: "Drug misuse declared: findings from the 2011/12 Crime Survey for England and Wales" (published July 2012)]

What is the most commonly used drug?

The 2011/12 Crime Survey (above) showed cannabis was the most commonly used type drug in the last year (6.9% of adults). This was followed by powder cocaine (2.2%). Cannabis use remains around the lowest level since measurements began.  

What about drug use among young people?

According to the 2011/12 survey (above), 19.3 per cent of 16 to 24 year olds had used an illicit drug in the last year; this remains around the lowest level since measurement began in 1996.

Has there been an increase or decrease in drug-related deaths?

In 2011, there were 1,772 male and 880 female drug poisoning deaths (involving both legal and illegal drugs) registered in 2011, a 6 per cent decrease since 2010 for males and a 3 per cent increase for females in England and Wales [Source: "Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales, 2011" (ONS, published 29 August 2012)]

The number of male drug misuse deaths(involving illegal drugs) decreased by 14 per cent from 1,382 in 2010 to 1,192 in 2011; female deaths increased by 3 per cent from 402 in 2010 to 413 in 2011.

• 596 deaths involving heroin/morphine in 2011
• 486 deaths involving methadone in 2011
• 393 deaths involving antidepressants in 2011
• 293 deaths involving benzodiazepines (e.g. diazepam) in 2011
• 207 deaths involving paracetamol and other analgesics in 2011
• 112 deaths involving cocaine in 2011

[Source: "Deaths related to drug poisoning in England and Wales, 2011", page 16 onwards]

What about drug use and the law in other European countries?

Information can be found via the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction. Countries which have a more liberal approach to drugs include Portugal [see Full Fact's article on decriminalisation in Portugal], the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.