Trends in Drug Use in Norway

Abstract

The extent of drug problems, especially among young people, is a heated topic in the public debate in Norway. Two points of view oppose each other. Some maintain, on the basis of data from the criminal statistics, that drug problems are increasing; others, on the basis of data from survey studies, maintain that they are not. Both parties may, however, be right. The data seem to indicate that there no longer is any increase in the recruitment of new users, but since drug use is a recent phenomenon, the number of older users who continue their drug use in adult age is increasing. Since these users are a group with serious personal and social problems, drug problems in Norway can be said to be increasing.