NORTHERN IRELAND
Information Service
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3 July 2000
CANNABIS - THE MOST COMMONLY USED ILLICIT DRUG IN NORTHERN IRELAND
Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug in Northern Ireland, according to a report published today.
The Northern Ireland Crime Survey (NICS) reports that 18% of 1998 respondents admitted to having used cannabis, compared to 16% of Omnibus Survey respondents in 1997 and 12% of 1995 NICS respondents.
Published by the Northern Ireland Office, the Research and Statistical Bulletin 4/2000 'Experience of Drug Misuse: Findings from the 1998 Northern Ireland Crime Survey' also reported that:
Knowledge of specific types of illicit drugs in Northern Ireland is very high with the majority of respondents having heard of most illicit drugs ranging from 98% having heard of ecstasy to 63% having heard of amyl nitrite.
While almost a quarter (24%) of all NICS respondents admitted taking at least one kind of illicit drug at some time, only 9% admitted taking them within the last year and 5% within the last month.
The proportion of NICS respondents admitting to every having taken illicit drugs increased from 20% in 1995 to 24% in 1998. The 1998 NICS rate of 24% was the same as the rate reported by an Omnibus Survey conducted in 1997.
30% of all males responding to the self-completion module in the NICS admitted taking illicit drugs at some time in their lives. Their rates for taking illicit drugs in the last year and month are much lower, at 13% and 7% respectively. The British Crime Survey shows that 38% of all males had tried illicit drugs at some time, 14% within the last year and 8% within the last month.
NICS respondents aged 16 to 29 years were approximately 5 times more likely than those aged 30 to 59 to have used illicit drugs in the last year or the last month. These figures are similar to those in England and Wales as reported by the British Crime Survey (1998).
One in 20 (5%) of male NICS respondents aged 16 to 29 years had taken ecstasy within the last month.
This research and Statistical Bulletin is available for downloading from the Internet at http://www.nio.gov.uk/cjp.htm It can also be obtained from NIO Statistics and Research Branch, Stormont Estate, Belfast, BT4 3SX. Tel: 02890 527534
