Health Insurance"Closer To Home Than You Think": One In Five Adults Knows Someone With Experience Of Drug Addiction
DrugScope has published research [1] showing that 1 in 5 adults in the UK have either direct or indirect personal experience of drug addiction [2]. The survey findings, revealed exclusively in the charity"s magazine Druglink, shed new light on public attitudes to drug use and drug users.
A specially-commissioned DrugScope/ICM poll found that, of over 1000 randomly selected adults:
- 19 per cent have "personal experience of drug addiction" either directly or among family or friends;
- 1 in 10 adults have a friend who has experience of drug addiction;
- 1 in 20 have experienced drug addiction in their family;
- 1 in 50 has personal experience of drug addiction.
- 77 per cent agree investment in drug treatment is "sensible use of government money".
The poll found that 19 per cent admitted that they had "personal experience of drug addiction", either directly or in their own family or circle of friends. Respondents were most likely to have a friend with experience of drug addiction (11 per cent), but 6 per cent had a family member who is or was drug dependent, while 2 per cent had themselves experienced drug dependency. The figures were much higher among the younger age groups surveyed, with over a quarter (27 per cent) of respondents aged between 18 and 34 admitting to personal direct or indirect experience of drug dependence.
These figures do not indicate an increase in the number of people experiencing drug dependency. Evidence suggests that overall drug use stabilising and the numbers of people getting support from drug treatment services is increasing year on year. What the figures do suggest is that drug dependency or drug misuse is a social problem that touches many people"s lives.
DrugScope commissioned the poll to find out more about public attitudes to drug users and drug treatment. The findings suggest that the public"s views are more sympathetic than may sometimes be assumed by policymakers and commentators. The majority - 80 per cent - of those surveyed agreed that "people can become addicted to drugs because of other problems in their lives" whereas only 35 per cent agreed with the statement "there is no excuse for drug addiction - it is always the individual"s fault." Overwhelming support for drug treatment was revealed, with 88 per cent of respondents agreeing that "people who have become addicted to drugs need help and support to get their lives back on track" and 77 per cent agreeing that investment in drug treatment is "a sensible use of government money."
The sympathetic response of the majority of people surveyed is in sharp contrast to much media reporting and public discourse around drug users. People with a drug dependency are among the most marginalised groups in society, and stigma and discrimination are real barriers to recovery for many; a recent poll found that two thirds of employers would not employ someone with a history of heroin or crack use, even if they were otherwise suitable for the job.
Martin Barnes, Chief Executive of DrugScope, said of the findings:
"Our research shows that drug dependency is something that"s close to home for many people. Every drug user is someone"s daughter or somebody"s son. It may be hard for a lot of people to reconcile the "junkies" or "crackheads" of many a headline with the person they know and love who has struggled with drug dependency.
"It"s encouraging that the majority of respondents - regardless of their own experience - understood that someone"s drug dependence will often stem from a number of other problems in their life and agreed that drug treatment should be available to all those who need it.
"DrugScope supports calls for continued investment in drug treatment on the basis of compassion and effectiveness, not fear. It is encouraging that the foundations for such a shift in perspective may already be in place. For many people trying to break free of addiction, stigma and discrimination remain a major barrier to recovery and may impact on their chances of getting into work, being housed appropriately or accessing proper healthcare. The government"s commitment to supporting problem drug users to reintegrate into society requires action to tackle stigmatising and discriminatory attitudes, in the media, among professionals and the public."
Notes
[1] About the research
For the DrugScope-commissioned poll, ICM Research interviewed a random sample of 1039 adults aged 18+ from its online panel between 20th-22nd February 2009. The survey covers respondents from England, Scotland and Wales and the results have been weighted to the profile of all adults.
ICM is a member of the British Polling Council and abides by its rules. Further information at http://www.icmresearch.co.uk
[2] What was meant by personal experience?
Respondents were asked Have you got personal experience of drug addiction, either directly or in your own family or circle of friends? 19 per cent of people responded that they did have direct or indirect experience of drug addiction.
DrugScope