How Much Does Drug Policy Matter How Much Does Drug Policy Matter?: Comparing drug use data, Netherlands-USA Manja Abraham* Kohnstamm Institute., Universiteit van Amsterdam Peter Cohen* Centruum voor Drugsonderzoek, Universiteit van Amsterdam Gerard Gmell Universite de Lausanne Lana Harrison University of Delaware Craig Reinarman University of California, Santa Cruz Sources: Abraham, M.D., Cohen, P.D.A, De Winter, M.A.L, Van Til, R.J. (1999) Licit and illicit drug use in the Netherlands, 1997. Amsterdam: CEDRO/Mets&Schilt Abraham, M.D., Kaal, H.L., Cohen, P.D.A (2002) Licit and illicit drug use in the Netherlands, 2001. Amsterdam: CEDRO/Mets&Schilt Office of Applied Studies, SAMSHSA (1998) 1997 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Office of Applied Studies, SAMSHSA (2002) 2001 National Household Survey on Drug Abuse. Rockville, MD: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Reinarman, Cohen and Kaal, “The Limited Relevance of Drug Policy: Cannabis in Amsterdam and San Francisco,” American Journal of Public Health 94:836-842, 2004]

Cannabis -- life time prevalence USA and NL, 1997 and 2001, by age group

Cannabis -- age of first use USA and NL, 1997 and 2001, by age group Cannabis average age of first use 0,0 5,0 10,0 15,0 20,0 25,0 Age category 12-17 18-25 26-34 35+ All ages (12+) US 1997 US 2001 NL 1997 NL 2001

Ecstacy -- life time prevalence USA and NL, 1997 and 2001, by age group

Ecstacy -- age of first use USA and NL, 1997 and 2001, by age group Ecstasy average age of first use 0,0 5,0 10,0 15,0 20,0 25,0 30,0 35,0 40,0 Age category 12-17 18-25 26-34 35+ All ages (12+) US 1997 US 2001 NL 1997 NL 2001

Heroin -- life time prevalence USA and NL, 1997 and 2001, by age group

Heroin -- age of first use USA and NL, 1997 and 2001, by age group Heroin average age of first use 0,0 5,0 10,0 15,0 20,0 25,0 30,0 Age category 12-17 18-25 26-34 35+ All ages (12+) US 1997 US 2001 NL 1997 NL 2001

Ages at first cannabis use, first regular use, and at start of heaviest use among experienced cannabis users (25x>)

in 4 periods, by city (% of all respondents) Experienced user samples: Frequency of cannabis use in 4 periods, by city (% of all respondents)

Experienced users: Average quantity of cannabis used per month [for last-year and last-3-months periods, percentages are of of respondents still using]

10 9 3 4 15 17 7 5 14 24 12 20 31 11 25 29 21 23 27 33 28 26 16 32 18 22 6 30 40 50 60 70 80 90 100 FY TP LY L3m Amsterdam San Francisco 1: Light buzz 2 6: Very high Experienced users: Intensity of intoxication at typical occasion of cannabis use [for last-year and last-3-months periods, percentages are of of respondents still using]

22 40 11 15 28 9 8 57 39 50 53 52 21 14 37 41 10 20 30 60 70 80 90 100 FY TP LY L3m Amsterdam San Francisco Only 1 hr 2-3 hrs 4+ hrs Experienced users: Duration of intoxication, typical occasion of cannabis use [for last-year and last-3-months periods, percentages are of of respondents still using]

Drug use prevalence Amsterdam and San Francisco (1998) [source; Reinarman, Cohen and Kaal, “The Limited Relevance of Drug Policy: Cannabis in Amsterdam and San Francisco,” American Journal of Public Health 94:836-842, 2004]

Table 1: User rules for regulating cannabis use (% reporting)

How often to you stick to your rules?

Figure 1: Locations of use, last three months of use [ mean frequency scores: never=0; seldom=1; sometimes=2; often=3; always=4]

Situations thought not suitable for cannabis use: Amsterdam San Francisco Work (or study) 69.3% 52.1% With Parents 16.6% 16.9% In public or at events 15.6% 15.9% While driving 8.0% 19.6% While concentrating 11.1% 11.4%

Emotional states thought suitable for cannabis use: Amsterdam San Francisco Feeling good, happy, joyful 59.3% 58.7% Feeling relaxed 22.8% 41.4% Feeling sexual 13.8% 6.8% Feeling excited, euphoric 10.2% 5.3% Feeling down, depressed 9.6% 5.2%

Emotional states thought unsuitable for cannabis use: Amsterdam San Francisco Feeling down, depressed 42.4% 29.1% Feeling sad, upset 28.1% 16.2% Feeling anxious, paranoid 11.4% 32.4% Feeling angry, aggressive, rageful 12.1% 23.4% Feeling tense, stressed out 15.9% 12.8% Feeling unsafe, insecure 10.6% 16.2%

Types of people with whom users would not want to consume cannabis: Amsterdam San Francisco Parents 54.6% 50.8% Relatives 32.8% 18.3% Co-workers 19.5% 28.8% Strangers 8.6% 20.8% Children 9.8% 16.3% Non-users, people opposed 12.1% 10.0%

Persons users persuaded to not try cannabis:

Persons users persuaded to try cannabis: