World’s Biggest Drug Survey: The Results are In!

After many months of waiting, the findings of the Global Drug Survey 2015 were released this week, with some unexpected findings.

Researchers say that the study surpasses last year’s Global Drug Survey as the world’s biggest ever survey of drug use.

Facilitated by an independent body of health and academic experts, it is recognised as ‘the world’s most comprehensive survey of drug use,’ compiling data from 102,000 people from 50 different countries.

The researchers behind the survey aim to compile the ‘most credible source of current drug use data trends in the world’ – information which they hope will influence healthcare policies, drug laws and education.

What Did The Survey Find?

Predictably, the survey found that the most popular drug amongst those surveyed was cannabis, with 55% of participant reporting use within the past 12 months. MDMA (ecstasy) came in at second place with 23% using it in the past year, and cocaine ranked third on the list at 15.5%.

But surprisingly, despite reports in the media about the increasing number of people using methamphetamines such as ice, only 9% of respondents reported trying that drug in the past 12 months.

Another unexpected trend was an apparent increase in the number of people using nitrous oxide – commonly known as ‘laughing gas’. Around 7% of respondents worldwide reported trying it in the past year, which was more than the number of people who reported using ketamine in the same period.

Laughing gas was particularly popular in the United Kingdom, where 23.7% of respondents reported using it in the past year. In Australia, 7.25% reported use, up from 4.8% the previous year.

Researchers suggest that the increased use of laughing gas is attributable to its legal use in medical and dental procedures, which leads users to perceive it as safe. It’s also seen relatively cheap compared to most other drugs, and is easily accessible.

E-cigarette use has reportedly doubled around the globe over the past year, fuelling concerns back home that more needs to be done to regulate the market and restrict availability to minors.

The survey also suggests a significant increase in people purchasing drugs online – despite the closure of online black market The Silk Road, and its founder, Ross William Ulbricht being sentenced to life imprisonment in May.

It was found that 25% of respondents had purchased drugs online in the past year, up from just 5% in 2009. Around 10% of Australian respondents bought drugs online, which researchers say has been influenced by our high drug prices on the streets.

Aussie Drugs Amongst the Most Expensive

The study also found that Aussie drug users are paying a high price for their drugs compared to other countries around the world.

The average price of a single ecstasy pill in Australia was $26.63,compared to just $13.04 globally.

Similarly, a gram of pure MDMA attracted a price of $241, compared to a worldwide average of $65.22. And cocaine was nearly triple the global average of $107.90 per gram, with users forking out $300.14 for the same amount.

Perhaps the high price of illicit drugs is one reason for the increased number of Aussies turning to prescription drugs to get high; with Australians amongst the highest abusers of prescription opioids, benzodiazepines and sleeping pills.

Several Australian drug suppliers reported reaping the benefits of lower global drug prices on online trading platforms. These dealers purchase large quantities of drugs online from international suppliers before selling them to local users at vastly inflated prices.

A True Cross-Section of Drug Users?

But while many are fascinated by the trends and statistics revealed by the survey, it has drawn criticism from those who say it does not represent a true cross-section of drug users.

According to one media outlet, the survey ‘only represents the drug habits of white people,’ because 91.5% of respondents were white – with just 1.9% Latino, 0.7% black and 0.4% south Asian.

Although these statistics may be attributed to the high number of respondents from European countries, some have questioned whether the study can truly be regarded as ‘global’ as claimed.