Scottish Crime and Justice Survey 2012/13: Drug Use

3 The Experiences of Adults Reporting Drug Use in Scotland

3.1 Introduction

This chapter focuses on the experiences of those who reported drug use. As previously mentioned, 23% of all adults over 16 said that they had used one or more illicit drugs at some point in their lives. Of the adults who had used drugs at some point in their lives, over one quarter (27%) had used drugs in the last year. Just over one in twenty of all adults (6.2%) said that they had used one or more illicit drugs in the last year with 3.3% saying that they had used one or more illicit drug in the last month. This chapter begins by examining self-reported drug use in the last year before going on to specifically focus on the experiences of adults over 16 who have used one or more illicit drugs in the last month looking at frequency of use; drug dependency; ease of obtaining drugs in the last month; and accessibility of drugs. This chapter has a particular focus on drug use in the last month as this time frame is most useful when examining drug dependency. This chapter then examines experience of drug use in the last year with regards to specific drugs; polydrug use; and joint use of alcohol and drugs. This chapter concludes by examining experience of drug use ever by specifically looking at age at which drug was first used; drug first used; and methods of taking drugs.

Chapter Findings

Self-reported drug use in the last year

Of the 6.2% of adults who reported using any illicit drugs in the last year (Base: 490), eight in ten (82.9%) said that they had used cannabis; 41.7% said that they had taken stimulants; 12.4% said that they had used downers/tranquilisers; 7% said that they had taken psychedelics; and 5.2% said that they had taken opiates in that time.

Frequency of drug use

Of adults who had used at least one type of illicit drug in the last month (3.3%, Base: 270), three quarters (75.9%) reported that cannabis was their most frequently used drug; one in ten (10.2%) reported that cocaine was their most frequently used drug; and 3.1% reported that ecstasy was their most frequently used drug in the last month.

Of adults who had used at least one type of illicit drug in the last month (3.3%, Base: 270), three in ten (30.2%) had used their most frequently used drug every day or almost every day and over a third (34.1%) had used their most frequently used drug once or twice in the last month.

Drug dependency

Of those who reported using drugs in the last month (3.3%, Base: 270):

• More than half (54.4%) reported that they did not feel dependent nor had tried to cut down and more than two fifths (44.6%) reported that they had felt dependent on the drug used most often in the last month or had tried to cut down but could not;
• More than a third (38.4%) said that they had tried to cut down on the drug they used most often in the last month and almost one quarter (23.2%) said that they felt dependent upon the drug used most often in the last month;
• Almost one fifth (17%) reported that they felt dependent and tried to cut down.

Ease of obtaining drugs

The majority of adults, who had taken drugs in the last month (Base: 270), said that it was either very easy (45.4%) or fairly easy (39%) to get hold of the drug used most often in the last month. Far fewer said that it was either fairly difficult (10.9%) or very difficult (4.4%) to get hold of the drug used most often in the last month.

Polydrug use/mixing alcohol and drugs

Amongst those that take drugs, polydrug use is common. Of those taking more than one drug in the last year (Base: 206), 54.1% of adults reported that they had taken different drugs together at the same time.

Of those who had taken at least one illicit drug in the last year (Base: 490), around three out of five adults (64.2%) reported that they had consumed alcohol at the same time as taking drugs.

First drug use

All respondents who reported having ever taken drugs (23%, Base: 2170) were asked what age they were when they first took drugs and what the first drug they used was.

• The most common age for first trying drugs was the late teens (16-19 years) with over half (51.2%) of those who had reported taking drugs at some point in their lives first trying them at this age.
• Around one quarter of adults (24.2%) said that they had first used drugs aged less than 16 and 0.8% said that they were less than 10 years old when they first tried drugs.

The majority of adults reported that their first drug used was cannabis (79.7%) with much fewer having first tried any stimulant drug (11.9%); any psychedelic drug (3.7%); or tranquilisers/downers (0.8%).

Methods of taking drugs

Of those adults who reported having used drugs at some point in their lives, the majority (92.2%) said that that they had taken them by smoking, sniffing or inhaling them.

3.2 Self-reported drug use in the last year and in the last month

Figure 3.1 shows the percentage of adults who had used each illicit drug in the last year looking only at adults who had used drugs in the last year.

• More than eight in ten adults (82.9%) who reported using any illicit drugs in the last year said that they had used cannabis in that time. This represents a decrease in comparison to the SCJS 2010/11(83.6%) however this was not statistically significant.
• Of all adults taking drugs in the last year, 41.7% said that they had taken stimulants; 12.4% said that they had used downers/tranquilisers; 7% said that they had taken psychedelics; and 5.2% said that they had taken opiates. There has been a decrease in the number of adults, who had used drugs in the last year, reporting use of stimulants, psychedelics and downers/tranquilisers in the last year but an increase in those reporting opiate use in comparison to the SCJS 2010/11 however there were no statistically significant changes.
• Of all adults taking drugs in the last year, 6.4% said that they had taken the new drug mephedrone and 2.7% said that they had taken any of the five drugs in the new drugs category.^[29] (For information on those taking new drugs out of all adults see section 2.7).

Figure 3.1: % each drug type used where used one or more illicit drugs in the last year

SCJS 2012/13

Base: Adults aged 16 or over who had used at least one illicit drug in the last year (490)

Variable Name: Q12M

Examining only adults who had used drugs in the last month (3.3%), figure 3.2 shows the percentage of adults who had used each illicit drug in the last month.^[30]

• 80.7% of adults who said that they had used any illicit drug in the last month reported using cannabis in that time.
• 19.3% of adults who said that they had used any illicit drug in the last month reported using cocaine.
• Of all adults taking drugs in the last month, 30.2% of adults reported using stimulants; 8.2% of adults reported using tranquilisers/downers; 7.3% of adults reported using opiates; and 3.7% of adults reported using psychedelics. There has been a decrease in the number of adults, who had used drugs in the last month, reporting use of stimulants, psychedelics and downers/tranquilisers but an increase in those reporting opiate use in the last month between 2010/11 and 2012/13. However, these changes were not statistically significant.
• No respondents stated that they had used crystal meth in the last month.

Figure 3.2: % each drug type where used one or more illicit drugs in the last month

SCJS 2012/13

Base: Adults aged 16 or over who had used at least one illicit drug in the month (270)

Variable Name: Q1M

3.3 Experiences of drug use in the last month

This section examines the single illicit drug reported as being used most often in the month prior to the survey interview; the frequency with which that drug was used; perceptions of dependency on that drug; and access to that drug.

As previously mentioned cannabis was the most commonly reported drug used by all adults (5.1%) in the month before the survey interview. Looking only at those who reported drug use in the last month (3.3% of adults), it was found that:

• Around three quarters of adults (75.9%) reported that cannabis was their most frequently used drug in the last month;
• Around one in ten adults (10.2%) reported that cocaine was their most frequently used drug in the last month;
• 3.1% of adults reported that ecstasy was their most frequently used drug in the last month;
• Stimulants were the most used drug in the last month (16.1% of adults reported use of this composite group);
• 3.5% of adults reported that opiate drugs were the most used in the last month;
• No adults reported crack, LSD, magic mushrooms, crystal meth, ketamine or glues, solvents, gas or aerosols as the drug used most often in the last month.

3.3.1 Drug used more often in the last month - frequency of use

Of the 3.3% of adults (Base: 270) who reported using drugs in the last month, around a third (34.1%) reported using their most frequently used drug once or twice in the last month. Three out of ten (30.2%) reported using their most frequently used drug on almost a daily basis. Around a quarter reported frequency of use of the drug they used most often in the last month, less than every day, but at least once a week or more, with just over one in ten (12.5%) reporting use of this drug 1-2 days a week, just under one in ten (9.5%) reporting using this drug 3-4 days each week and just under one in twenty (4.4%) using their most frequently used drug 5-6 days a week (see figure 3.3).

Figure 3.3: % who reported drug use in the last month by how frequently they have used the drug they use most often

SCJS 2012/13

Base: adults aged 16 or over who have used at least one illicit drug in the last month (270)

Variable Name: QDROFT

Table 3.1 shows the changes in frequency of use of the drug used most often in the last month between 2008/09 and 2012/13 and between 2010/11 and 2012/13. The table shows that there has been an increase from 20.9% to 30.2% in the number of adults reporting that they use their most frequently used drug every day or almost every day between 2008/09 and 2012/13. However, there were no statistically significant changes in frequency of use of the drug used most often in the last month between 2008/09 and 2012/13.

Table 3.1: Trends in frequency of use of the drug used most often in the last month from 2008/09 to 2012/13

Percentage of adults aged 16 and over who had used an illicit drug in the last month	2008/09	2009/10	2010/11	2012/13	% change 2008/09 - 2012/13	% change 2010/11 - 2012/13
Once or twice in last month	38.1	34.5	37.4	34.1	-4.0	-3.3
Every day or almost every day	20.9	16.5	24.3	30.2	9.3	5.9
Base	380	440	310	270

Base: adults aged 16 or over who had used at least one illicit drug in the last month

Variable: QDROFT

3.3.2 Variation in drug used most often in the last month and frequency of use

Frequency of use of the drug used most often in the last month varied by gender and by age. Frequency of drug use on an almost daily basis and frequency of drug use once or twice a month were specifically examined.^[31]

Gender

Base: Adults aged 16 and over within group: Men: 200, Women: 70

• Men were more likely to report using their most frequently used drug on an almost daily basis in the last month (34.2%) in comparison to women (17.8%).
• Women were more likely to report using their most frequently used drug once or twice in the last month (50.3%) in comparison to men (28.9%).

Age

Bases: Adults aged 16 and over within group: Aged: 16-24 - 70; Aged: 25-44 - 150; Aged: 45-59 - 50; Aged 60+: #

• Around three out of 10 of those aged 16 -24 (27.9%), 25-44 (29.3%) and 45-59 (34.6%) reported using their most frequently used drug on an almost daily basis.

Figure 3.4 illustrates the association between gender and frequency of drug use for the drug used most often in the last month.

Figure 3.4: % frequency of drug use in the last month by gender

SCJS 2012/13

Base: adults, males and females aged 16 or over who had used at least one illicit drug in the last month (Adults: 270 Males: 200 Females: 70)

Variable Names: QDROFT and QDGEN

3.3.3 Drug Dependency

Of those who had used at least one illicit drug in the last month (3.3% of adults, Base: 270):

• Almost a quarter (23.2%) said that they felt dependent upon the drug they used most often in the last month;
• More than a third (38.4%) said that they had tried to cut down on the drug they used most often in the last month whilst almost two thirds (61.6%) said that they had not tried to cut down on the drug used more often in the last month;
• More than two fifths (44.6%) reported that they had felt dependent on the drug used most often in the last month or had tried to cut down but could not;
• Almost one fifth (17%) reported that they felt dependent and tried to cut down;
• More than half (54.4%) reported that they did not feel dependent nor had tried to cut down.

Drug dependency by specific drug

Of those who had used at least one illicit drug in the last month (Base: 270), when asked about the drug they used most often, one in five adults (20.1%) who used cannabis most often reported feeling they needed or were dependent on this drug; this was a much greater proportion than for other drugs:

• 20.1% said that they felt they needed/were dependent on cannabis;
• 2% said that they felt they needed/were dependent on any opiate drugs;
• 0.5% said they felt they needed/were dependent on any downers/tranquilisers;
• 0.5% said that they felt they needed/were dependent on any stimulant drugs

Variation in drug dependency by gender, socio-economic group, tenure and area deprivation

Of those who had used at least one illicit drug in the last month (Base: 270), when asked whether they felt dependent on or needed the drug they took most often, this response varied significantly^[32] by gender; socio-economic group; tenure; and area deprivation.

• 27.9% of men reported that they had felt dependent on the drug taken most often in the last month in comparison to 8.9% of women.
• 38.9% of adults in the never worked and long term unemployed socio-economic group said that they felt they needed/were dependent on the drug taken most often in the last month in comparison to 22.8% of those in the routine and manual socio-economic group.
• 36% of adults who socially rented said that they felt they needed/were dependent on the drug taken most often in the last month in comparison to 16.9% of those who privately rented and 8.1% of owner occupiers.
• 35.7% of adults living in the 15% most deprived areas in Scotland said that they felt they needed/were dependent on the drug taken most often in the last month in comparison to 19.7% of those who do not live in these areas.

3.3.4 Ease of obtaining drugs in the last month

Those who had taken drugs in the last month (Base: 270) were asked how difficult it was to get hold of the drug used most often in the last month. The majority said that this was very easy (45.4%) or fairly easy (39%) whilst far fewer said that it was either fairly difficult (10.9%) or very difficult (4.4%) to get hold of the drug used most often in the last month. There has been a decrease from 48.6% to 45.4% in the number of adults reporting that it was very easy to get hold of the drug use most often in the last month between 2008/09 and 2012/13. There has been an increase from 2.4% to 4.4% in the number of adults reporting that getting hold of the drug used most often in the last month was very difficult between 2008/09 and 2012/13. However, these changes were not statistically significant.

3.3.5 Access to drugs in the last month

Those who had taken drugs in the last month (Base: 270) were asked who or where they got the drug used most often in the last month from, with specific reference to the last time they took the drug.

• Over a third (36.8%) said that they had got their drug taken most often in the last month, the last time they used it, from 'someone well known' to them (e.g. a friend, neighbour or work colleague).
• One in five adults (21.6%) said that they got it from a known dealer.
• One in ten adults (9.8%) said they had got if from a dealer not known to them personally.
• Just under one in ten (9.5%) said that they had got it from someone known to them only by sight or to speak to casually.
• 6.8% said that they had got it from a stranger.
• 1.8% said they had got it from a shop, 1.6% from a family member and 0.4% from the internet.

3.4 Experiences of drug use in the last year

This section will focus on the experience of drug use in the last year by examining experiences of the most commonly used drugs in the last year; polydrug use; and joint consumption of alcohol and drugs.

3.4.1 Experiences of use of most prevalent drugs

Cannabis

Base: 410

As previously mentioned, cannabis is the most used drug in the last month, last year and ever. All adults over 16 who had used cannabis in the last year were asked to describe their use of this drug. Of the 5.1% of adults who reported using cannabis in the last year:

• Over a quarter of adults (25.7%) said that it was something that they had tried once or twice;
• Nearly three fifths of adults (58.3%) said that it was something that they had used more than once or twice but would not or did not have difficulty giving it up if they wanted to;
• Three out of twenty adults (14.8%) said that cannabis was something that they needed or were dependent on at the time of the survey or in the last year.

Cocaine

Base: 140

After cannabis, cocaine was the next most commonly used drug in the last year (1.7%). Of all adults over 16 who reported using cocaine in the last year:

• Just over two fifths of adults (42.4%) said that it was something that they had tried once or twice;
• More than half of adults (55.7%) said that it was something that they had used more than once or twice but would not or did not have difficulty giving it up if they wanted to;
• 1.9% of adults said that cocaine was something that they needed or were dependent on at the time of the survey or in the last year.

Ecstasy

Base: 100

Ecstasy was the next most commonly used drug in the last year (1.3%). Of all respondents who reported using ecstasy in the last year:

• Just over two fifths of adults (42.1%) said that it was something that they had tried once or twice;
• More than half of adults (56.4%) said that it was something that they had used more than once or twice but would not or did not have difficulty giving it up if they wanted to;
• 0.3% of adults said that ecstasy was something that they needed or were dependent on at the time of the survey or in the last year.

Tranquilisers

Base: 60

Tranquilisers were the next most commonly used drug in the last year (0.8%). Of all respondents who reported using tranquilisers in the last year:

• Just less than a third of adults (31.1%) said that it was something that they had tried once or twice;
• Over a half of adults (53%) said that it was something that they had used more than once or twice but would not or did not have difficulty giving it up if they wanted to;
• Three out of twenty adults (15.9%) said that tranquilisers were something that they needed or were dependent on at the time of the survey or in the last year.

Amphetamines

Base: 60

Amphetamines were the next more commonly used drug in the last year (0.7%). Of all respondents who reported using amphetamines in the last year:

• A third of adults (33.6%) said that it was something that they had tried once or twice;
• Around two thirds of adults (64.1%) said that it was something that they had used more than once or twice but would not or did not have difficulty giving it up if they wanted to;
• 0.5% of adults said that amphetamines were something that they needed or were dependent on at the time of the survey or in the last year.

3.4.2 Polydrug use

Polydrug use is the use of more than one drug at the same time, often with the intention of enhancing or countering the effect of another drug. Adults over 16 were asked whether in the last year they had taken different drugs together at the same time. Of all adults over 16 taking more than one drug in the last year (Base: 206), 54.1% of adults reported that they had taken different drugs together at the same time and 45.9% said that they had not.

3.4.3 Alcohol and Drug Use

Of all respondents who had taken any illicit drugs in the last year (6.2% of adults; Base: 490), around two thirds of adults (64.2%) reported that they had consumed alcohol at the same time as taking drugs and just over a third of adults (35.8%) said that they had not.

Self-reported consumption of alcohol at the same time as taking drugs in the last year was significantly^[33] associated with gender, age, socio-economic classification, housing tenure and area deprivation. The strongest differences^[34] were in relation to socio-economic group and housing tenure (see figure 3.5).

• Men were more likely to report consuming alcohol at the same time as taking drugs than women (65.9% and 59.8% respectively).
• Those aged 16-24 were more likely to report consuming alcohol at the same time as taking drugs in the last year (67.6%) in comparison to 64.4% of those aged 25-44, 52.2% of those aged 45-59 and 53.7% of those over 60.
• Those in the managerial/professional socio-economic group were more likely to report consuming alcohol at the same time as taking drugs in the last year (72.6%) in comparison to 69.4% of adults in the intermediate group; 68.7% of adults in the routine and manual socio-economic group; and 50.4% of adults in the not working and long-term unemployed group.
• Owner occupiers were more likely to report consuming alcohol at the same time as taking drugs in the last year (72.8%) in comparison to 53.8% of those who socially rent and 65.0% who privately rent.
• Those not living in the SIMD 15% most deprived areas in Scotland were more likely to report consuming alcohol at the same time as taking drugs in the last year (66.9%) in comparison to 54.2% of adults living in the SIMD 15% most deprived areas.

The SCJS 2012/13 findings specifically on joint consumption of alcohol and drugs amongst adults who self-reported taking any illicit drugs in the last year shows a different pattern than findings on drug use only in the last year when looking at socio-economic group, tenure and area deprivation. Those in the managerial/professional socio-economic group, those who are owner-occupiers and those not living in the 15^% most deprived areas of Scotland were the most likely to report that they had consumed alcohol and drugs at the same time from all those who have taken drugs in the last year. These are the three groups which are the least likely to report any illicit drug use in the last year based on all respondents (see figure 2.8).

Figure 3.5: % reporting consumption of alcohol at the same time as using drugs by gender, age, socio-economic group, housing tenure and SIMD Index

SCJS 2012/13

Base: adults aged 16 or over who have reported use of one or more illicit drugs in the last year within group)^[35]

Variables Names: Q12MALC; QDGEN; TABAGE; TABN SSEC; TABTEN; SIMD_TOP

3.5 Experiences of adults who have taken drugs at some point in their lives

Having examined experiences of drug use in the last month and in the last year - this section will explore experiences of drug use of all adults who reported taking illicit drugs at some point in their lives (Base: 2170) through examining: age at which drugs used were first taken; first drug ever used; and methods of taking drugs.

3.5.1 Age at which drugs first taken

All adults aged 16 and over who reported having ever taken drugs were asked what age they were when they first took drugs. Figure 3.6 shows that:

• The most common age for first trying drugs was the late teens (16-19) with over half (51.2%) of those who had reported taking drugs at some point in their lives first trying them at this age;
• Around one quarter of adults (24.2%) said that they had first used drugs aged under 16 and of those 0.8% said that they were less than 10 years old when they first tried drugs;
• A small proportion of adults reported first trying drugs aged over 30 (3.5%).

Figure 3.6: Age at which drugs were first taken

SCJS 2012/13

Base: adults aged 16 or over who had ever used at least one illicit drug (2170)

Variable Name: QDRAGE

3.5.2 Variations in the age at which drugs first taken

Age at which drugs were first taken was significantly^[36] associated with gender, socio-economic classification, housing tenure, victim status and area deprivation. The strongest differences^[37] were in relation to socio-economic group and housing tenure.

• Men were more likely to report first taking drugs aged less than 16 (27.2%) in comparison to women (19.5%);
• Victims of crime were more likely to report first taking drugs aged less than 16 (31.2%) in comparison to non-victims (21.8%);
• Adults in routine & manual work (29.2%) and adults classified as not working or long-term unemployed (29%) were more likely to report having first taken drugs aged less than 16 than those in intermediate occupations (23.7%) and those in managerial and professional occupations (16.1%);
• Those living in socially rented housing were more likely to report first taking drugs aged less than 16 (37.8%) than those living in private accommodation (25.9%) and owner-occupiers (16.9%);
• Those living in the SIMD 15% most deprived areas were more likely to report first taking drugs aged less than 16 (30.6%) compared with those not living in these areas (23%).

3.5.3 First drug ever used

Respondents who had ever used one or more illicit drugs were asked what the first drug they had ever used was (see figure 3.7).

• The majority of adults reported that their first drug used was cannabis (79.7%).
• Over one in ten adults (11.9%) reported that their first drug used was any stimulant drug with 3.5% having first tried ecstasy and 3.3% stated amphetamines, 3.2% stated poppers and 1.6% stated cocaine as their first drug used.
• 3.7% said that their first drug used was a psychedelic drug including 2.1% that stated magic mushrooms and 1.6% that stated LSD as first drug used.
• 0.8% of adults reported that their first drug used was any tranquilisers/downers.
• 2.9% said that their first drug used was glues, solvents, gas or aerosols.
• 0.3% of adults reported that their first drug used the opiate drug heroin.

Figure 3.7: First drug ever used

SCJS 2012/13

Base: Adults aged 16 or over who had ever used at least one illicit drug (2,170)

Variable Name: QDR1ST

Cannabis was the most commonly stated drug first used for all age ranges. Adults who first used drugs aged over 25 were more likely to report tranquilisers/downers as their first drug used (5.5%) in comparison to 0.8% of all adults. Of those who were under 16 years when they first used drugs, 10.8% said that their drug first used was either glues, solvents, gas or aerosols, this compares with a much lower first use of glues, solvents etc. by those aged 16-19 (0.5%) and those aged 20 or over (0.4%).

3.5.4 Methods of taking drugs ever tried

Of those adults who reported having used drugs at some point in their lives, the majority (92.2%) said that that they had taken them by smoking, sniffing or inhaling them. Around two in five (41.3%) also reported that they had tried to swallow, eat or drink drugs. 2.1% of adults said that they had injected drugs and 0.7% said that they had used another method.