Drug Misuse

Abstract

The word ‘misuse’ as used in many Anglophone countries signifies the non-authorised use of medicines that can, in appropriate circumstances, be legally used. By contrast, The World Health Organization prefers the term ‘abuse’. Depending on the jurisdiction, the substances in question are referred to as either scheduled or controlled drugs. Overall drug use by adults in England and Wales has remained fairly stable in the past 20 years, although drug-associated fatal poisonings have reached an all-time high. The most commonly-used drug was cannabis (Class B) while around a third had taken a Class A drug. Apart from cannabis and amphetamine, use of other Class B drugs was much lower. Cocaine in any form, MDMA and ‘magic mushrooms’ were the most commonly-used Class A drugs. Most fatalities are associated with heroin and, to a lesser extent, with other narcotic analgesics. Drug seizures by law enforcement agencies are a less good measure of population use since they depend to a certain extent on the level of enforcement. They show a marked decline from the situation ten years ago. Nevertheless, in recent years, cannabis in its various forms has been the most commonly-seized drug, while cocaine including crack cocaine has been the most commonly-seized Class A drug. Despite their high political profile, new psychoactive substances represent a minor aspect of use, seizures and fatalities.