Public attitudes towards people with drug dependence and people in recovery: research report
Research into public attitudes in Scotland towards people with a history of drug dependence.
Appendix 1: Survey Questionnaire
The following questions are about drug use and drug dependence. We understand this may be a sensitive topic but please remember your answers will always be treated anonymously and will never be analysed individually. There will also be the option to select "Prefer not to say" where appropriate. Are you happy to continue with this section of the survey?
<1> Yes, I am
<2> No, I am not
Q1. **ASK ALL**
The following statements are about drug dependence. By "drug dependence", we mean an overwhelming need to use illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin and cannabis on a regular basis. In general, to what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statements? (Please select one option on each row).
[Statements were split into batches of 5 so respondents did not see all 25 in one grid; statements were randomised]
| Agree strongly | Agree slightly | Neither agree nor disagree | Disagree slightly | Disagree strongly | Don't know | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| One of the main causes of drug dependence is a lack of self-discipline and willpower | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| There is something about people with drug dependence that makes it easy to tell them from other people | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Drug dependence is an illness like any other long-term chronic health problem | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| People who become dependent on drugs are basically just bad people | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Virtually anyone can become dependent on drugs | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Drug dependence is often caused by traumatic experiences, such as abuse, poverty or bereavement | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| We need to adopt a far more tolerant attitude towards people with a history of drug dependence in our society | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| We have a responsibility to provide the best possible care for people with drug dependence | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| People with drug dependence don't deserve our sympathy | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| People with a history of drug dependence are a burden on society | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Increased spending on services for people trying to overcome drug dependence would be a waste of money | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| A person would be foolish to enter into a serious relationship with a person who has suffered from drug dependence, even if they seemed fully recovered | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| I would not want to live next door to someone who has been dependent on drugs | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Anyone with a history of drug dependence should be excluded from taking public office (e.g. being on the local council) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| People who have a history of drug dependence are far less of a danger than most people think | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Most people who were once dependent on drugs can be trusted as babysitters | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| It is important for people recovering from drug dependence to be part of the community | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Residents have nothing to fear from people coming into their neighbourhood to obtain drug treatment services | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| People recovering from drug dependence should have the same rights to a job as anyone else | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| People with a history of drug dependence are too often demonised in the media | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| If people with drug dependence really wanted to stop using they could do so | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| People can never completely recover from drug dependence | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| People taking medication like methadone to treat their drug dependence and no longer use illegal drugs, can be considered recovered | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Most people would not become dependent on drugs if they had good parents | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| Parents would be foolish to let their children play in the park with the children of someone who has a history of drug dependence | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Q2. **ASK ALL**
**For the following questions, please think about drug use more generally, rather than drug dependence...** On a scale of 1 to 10, where 1 is "Very acceptable" and 10 is "Not at all acceptable", how acceptable, if at all, do you consider the following types of drug use to be?
| Very acceptable | Not at all acceptable | No opinion / Don't know | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Using 'party drugs' (e.g. ecstasy/other illegal stimulants) at the weekend | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Using heroin on a daily basis for six months | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Smoking cannabis a few times a week | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Using heroin on a daily basis for 10 years or more | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Using methadone for 10 years or more* | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
| Using cocaine everyday | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 |
*respondents were given the description: "Methadone is a drug prescribed to those with a heroin addiction. depending on the needs of the individual, the dose can be slowly reduced over time, so patients are able to give up heroin without experiencing withdrawal symptoms".
Q3. **ASK ALL**
Please remember that your answers will always be treated anonymously and will never be analysed individually. If you would prefer not to answer this question, please select the "Prefer not to say" option. If you don't know anyone who has used recreational drugs, please select the "Not applicable" option.
For the following question, by "recreationally", we mean taking drugs occasionally (e.g. at a party).
Which, if any, of the following people do you know who has **ever** used illegal drugs recreationally, regardless of current use? (Please select all that apply. If your answer does not show in the list, please type it in the "Other" box.)
| CODE | |
|---|---|
| Immediate family (e.g. spouse, child, sister, brother, parent etc.) | 1 |
| Partner (while they were living with me) | 2 |
| Partner (while they were not living with me) | 3 |
| Other family (e.g. uncle, aunt, cousin, grandparent etc.) | 4 |
| Friend | 5 |
| Acquaintance | 6 |
| Work colleague | 7 |
| Neighbour | 8 |
| Myself | 9 |
| Other (please write in) | 10 |
| Not applicable - I don't know anyone who has used recreational drugs | 11 |
| Prefer not to say | 12 |
Q4. **ASK ALL**
Please remember that your answers will always be treated anonymously and will never be analysed individually. If you would prefer not to answer this question, please select the "Prefer not to say" option.
For the following question, by "dependence", we mean an overwhelming need to use illegal drugs such as cocaine, heroin and cannabis. Which, if any, of the following people do you know who has **ever** had some kind of dependence on illegal drugs? (Please select all that apply. If your answer does not show in the list, please type it in the "Other" box. If you don't know anyone who has had some kind of dependence on drugs, please select the "Not applicable" option)
| CODE | |
|---|---|
| Immediate family (e.g. spouse, child, sister, brother, parent etc.) | 1 |
| Partner (while they were living with me) | 2 |
| Partner (while they were not living with me) | 3 |
| Other family (e.g. uncle, aunt, cousin, grandparent etc.) | 4 |
| Friend | 5 |
| Acquaintance | 6 |
| Work colleague | 7 |
| Neighbour | 8 |
| Myself | 9 |
| Other (please write in) | 10 |
| Not applicable - I don't know anyone who has had some kind of dependence on drugs | 11 |
| Prefer not to say | 12 |
**If you've been affected by this topic or would like any more information, please contact
Scottish Families Affected by Alcohol and Drugs ( SFAD) http://www.sfad.org.uk/ the Scottish Recovery Consortium ( SRC) http://scottishrecoveryconsortium.org/ or Addaction http://www.addaction.org.uk/
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