The toughest policies - the highest use. It would be hilarious if it
wasn't so tragic.



United States Has Highest Level Of Illegal Cocaine And Cannabis Use

ScienceDaily (July 1, 2008) — A survey of 17 countries has found that
despite its punitive drug policies the United States has the highest
levels of illegal cocaine and cannabis use. The study, by Louisa
Degenhardt (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) and
colleagues, is based on the World Health Organization's Composite
International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).

The authors found that 16.2% of people in the United States had used
cocaine in their lifetime, a level much higher than any other country
surveyed (the second highest level of cocaine use was in New Zealand,
where 4.3% of people reported having used cocaine). Cannabis use was
highest in the US (42.4%), followed by New Zealand (41.9%).

In the Americas, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand, alcohol had been used by
the vast majority of survey participants, compared to smaller proportions
in the Middle East, Africa, and China.

The survey found differences in both legal and illegal drug use among
different socioeconomic groups. For example, males were more likely than
females to have used all drug types; younger adults were more likely than
older adults to have used all drugs examined; and higher income was
related to drug use of all kinds. Marital status was found to be related
to tobacco, cannabis, and cocaine use, but not alcohol use (the never
married and previously married having higher odds of lifetime cocaine and
cannabis use than the currently married; tobacco use is more likely in
people who have been previously married while less likely among the never
married).

Drug use "does not appear to be simply related to drug policy," say the
authors, "since countries with more stringent policies towards illegal
drug use did not have lower levels of such drug use than countries with
more liberal policies." In the Netherlands, for example, which has more
liberal policies than the US, 1.9% of people reported cocaine use and
19.8% reported cannabis use.

Data on drug use were available from 54,068 survey participants in 17
countries. The 17 countries were determined by the availability of
research collaborators and on funding for the survey. Trained lay
interviewers carried out face-to-face interviews (except in France where
the interviews were done over the telephone) using a standardized,
structured diagnostic interview for psychiatric conditions and drug use.
Participants were asked if they had ever used alcohol, tobacco, cannabis,
or cocaine.

The study's main limitations are that only 17 countries were surveyed,
within these countries there were different rates of participation, and it
is unclear whether people accurately report their drug use when
interviewed. Nevertheless, the findings present comprehensive data on the
patterns of drug use from national samples representing all regions of the
world.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630201007.htm

-- 
Dr John Watson
Baker Street

Dr John Watson wrote:
> The toughest policies - the highest use. It would be hilarious if it
> wasn't so tragic.
>
>   
    Rigid government generates anarchy right in line with the esoteric 
doctrines
of Discordian philosophy/
   
>
> United States Has Highest Level Of Illegal Cocaine And Cannabis Use
>
> ScienceDaily (July 1, 2008) — A survey of 17 countries has found that
> despite its punitive drug policies the United States has the highest
> levels of illegal cocaine and cannabis use. The study, by Louisa
> Degenhardt (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) and
> colleagues, is based on the World Health Organization's Composite
> International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).
>
> The authors found that 16.2% of people in the United States had used
> cocaine in their lifetime, a level much higher than any other country
> surveyed (the second highest level of cocaine use was in New Zealand,
> where 4.3% of people reported having used cocaine). Cannabis use was
> highest in the US (42.4%), followed by New Zealand (41.9%).
>   

    Those numbers make no sense so he must be an unconscious Erisian.
> In the Americas, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand, alcohol had been used by
> the vast majority of survey participants, compared to smaller proportions
> in the Middle East, Africa, and China.
>
> The survey found differences in both legal and illegal drug use among
> different socioeconomic groups. For example, males were more likely than
> females to have used all drug types; younger adults were more likely than
> older adults to have used all drugs examined; and higher income was
> related to drug use of all kinds. Marital status was found to be related
> to tobacco, cannabis, and cocaine use, but not alcohol use (the never
> married and previously married having higher odds of lifetime cocaine and
> cannabis use than the currently married; tobacco use is more likely in
> people who have been previously married while less likely among the never
> married).
>
> Drug use "does not appear to be simply related to drug policy," say the
> authors, "since countries with more stringent policies towards illegal
> drug use did not have lower levels of such drug use than countries with
> more liberal policies." In the Netherlands, for example, which has more
> liberal policies than the US, 1.9% of people reported cocaine use and
> 19.8% reported cannabis use.
>   
    Unable to grasp inverse relationships.  How pitiful!
   
> Data on drug use were available from 54,068 survey participants in 17
> countries. The 17 countries were determined by the availability of
> research collaborators and on funding for the survey. Trained lay
> interviewers carried out face-to-face interviews (except in France where
> the interviews were done over the telephone) using a standardized,
> structured diagnostic interview for psychiatric conditions and drug use.
> Participants were asked if they had ever used alcohol, tobacco, cannabis,
> or cocaine.
>
> The study's main limitations are that only 17 countries were surveyed,
> within these countries there were different rates of participation, and it
> is unclear whether people accurately report their drug use when
> interviewed. Nevertheless, the findings present comprehensive data on the
> patterns of drug use from national samples representing all regions of the
> world.
>
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630201007.htm
>
>   
    Don't eat no hot dog buns on Friday. 

	later
	bliss -- C  O C O A  Powered... (at california dot com)

-- 
bobbie sellers - a retired nurse in San Francisco

    Ningen banji          Human beings do
    Samazama no           Every single kind
    Baka a suru           Of stupid thing
        --- 117th edition of Haifu Yanagidaru published in 1832

Dr John Watson wrote:
> The toughest policies - the highest use. It would be hilarious if it
> wasn't so tragic.
>
>   
    Rigid government generates anarchy right in line with the esoteric
doctrines of Discordian philosophy.

>
> United States Has Highest Level Of Illegal Cocaine And Cannabis Use
>
> ScienceDaily (July 1, 2008) — A survey of 17 countries has found that
> despite its punitive drug policies the United States has the highest
> levels of illegal cocaine and cannabis use. The study, by Louisa
> Degenhardt (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) and
> colleagues, is based on the World Health Organization's Composite
> International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).
>
> The authors found that 16.2% of people in the United States had used
> cocaine in their lifetime, a level much higher than any other country
> surveyed (the second highest level of cocaine use was in New Zealand,
> where 4.3% of people reported having used cocaine). Cannabis use was
> highest in the US (42.4%), followed by New Zealand (41.9%).
>   

    Those numbers make no sense so he must be an unconscious Erisian.

> In the Americas, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand, alcohol had been used by
> the vast majority of survey participants, compared to smaller proportions
> in the Middle East, Africa, and China.
>
> The survey found differences in both legal and illegal drug use among
> different socioeconomic groups. For example, males were more likely than
> females to have used all drug types; younger adults were more likely than
> older adults to have used all drugs examined; and higher income was
> related to drug use of all kinds. Marital status was found to be related
> to tobacco, cannabis, and cocaine use, but not alcohol use (the never
> married and previously married having higher odds of lifetime cocaine and
> cannabis use than the currently married; tobacco use is more likely in
> people who have been previously married while less likely among the never
> married).
>
> Drug use "does not appear to be simply related to drug policy," say the
> authors, "since countries with more stringent policies towards illegal
> drug use did not have lower levels of such drug use than countries with
> more liberal policies." In the Netherlands, for example, which has more
> liberal policies than the US, 1.9% of people reported cocaine use and
> 19.8% reported cannabis use.
>   
    Unable to grasp inverse relationships.  How pitiful!

> Data on drug use were available from 54,068 survey participants in 17
> countries. The 17 countries were determined by the availability of
> research collaborators and on funding for the survey. Trained lay
> interviewers carried out face-to-face interviews (except in France where
> the interviews were done over the telephone) using a standardized,
> structured diagnostic interview for psychiatric conditions and drug use.
> Participants were asked if they had ever used alcohol, tobacco, cannabis,
> or cocaine.
>
> The study's main limitations are that only 17 countries were surveyed,
> within these countries there were different rates of participation, and it
> is unclear whether people accurately report their drug use when
> interviewed. Nevertheless, the findings present comprehensive data on the
> patterns of drug use from national samples representing all regions of the
> world.
>
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630201007.htm
>
>   
    Don't eat no hot dog buns on Friday.

	later
	bliss -- C  O C O A  Powered... (at california dot com)

-- 
bobbie sellers - a retired nurse in San Francisco

    Ningen banji          Human beings do
    Samazama no           Every single kind
    Baka a suru           Of stupid thing
        --- 117th edition of Haifu Yanagidaru published in 1832

In article , drjohn@NOSPAM.hotpotmail.com (Dr
John Watson) wrote:

> *From:* Dr John Watson 
> *Date:* Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:52:52 +0100
> 
> The toughest policies - the highest use. It would be hilarious if it
> wasn't so tragic.
And it also has the best funded and most vocal legalisation lobbyists.

Could it be the things are connected? Does calling for legalisation,  repeatedly,
increase use and therefore increase harm?

There was a lot of stridency about anti smoking laws (tobacco) in the UK, yet now
we are being told after those laws have been in a while, that they have successful
reduced smoking and improved the nations health. 

Is it therefore smart for governments to ignore the lobbyists for more use of drugs?


> 
> 
> 
> United States Has Highest Level Of Illegal Cocaine And Cannabis Use
> 
> ScienceDaily (July 1, 2008) _ A survey of 17 countries has found 
> that
> despite its punitive drug policies the United States has the highest
> levels of illegal cocaine and cannabis use. The study, by Louisa
> Degenhardt (University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia) and
> colleagues, is based on the World Health Organization's Composite
> International Diagnostic Interview (CIDI).
> 
> The authors found that 16.2% of people in the United States had used
> cocaine in their lifetime, a level much higher than any other 
> country
> surveyed (the second highest level of cocaine use was in New 
> Zealand,
> where 4.3% of people reported having used cocaine). Cannabis use was
> highest in the US (42.4%), followed by New Zealand (41.9%).
> 
> In the Americas, Europe, Japan, and New Zealand, alcohol had been 
> used by
> the vast majority of survey participants, compared to smaller 
> proportions
> in the Middle East, Africa, and China.
> 
> The survey found differences in both legal and illegal drug use 
> among
> different socioeconomic groups. For example, males were more likely 
> than
> females to have used all drug types; younger adults were more 
> likely than
> older adults to have used all drugs examined; and higher income was
> related to drug use of all kinds. Marital status was found to be 
> related
> to tobacco, cannabis, and cocaine use, but not alcohol use (the 
> never
> married and previously married having higher odds of lifetime 
> cocaine and
> cannabis use than the currently married; tobacco use is more likely 
> in
> people who have been previously married while less likely among the 
> never
> married).
> 
> Drug use "does not appear to be simply related to drug policy," say 
> the
> authors, "since countries with more stringent policies towards 
> illegal
> drug use did not have lower levels of such drug use than countries 
> with
> more liberal policies." In the Netherlands, for example, which has 
> more
> liberal policies than the US, 1.9% of people reported cocaine use 
> and
> 19.8% reported cannabis use.
> 
> Data on drug use were available from 54,068 survey participants in 
> 17
> countries. The 17 countries were determined by the availability of
> research collaborators and on funding for the survey. Trained lay
> interviewers carried out face-to-face interviews (except in France 
> where
> the interviews were done over the telephone) using a standardized,
> structured diagnostic interview for psychiatric conditions and drug 
> use.
> Participants were asked if they had ever used alcohol, tobacco, 
> cannabis,
> or cocaine.
> 
> The study's main limitations are that only 17 countries were 
> surveyed,
> within these countries there were different rates of participation, 
> and it
> is unclear whether people accurately report their drug use when
> interviewed. Nevertheless, the findings present comprehensive data 
> on the
> patterns of drug use from national samples representing all regions 
> of the
> world.
> 
> http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080630201007.htm
> 
> -- 
> Dr John Watson
> Baker Street
> 
>

Claude wrote:
> In article , drjohn@NOSPAM.hotpotmail.com (Dr
> John Watson) wrote:
> 
>> *From:* Dr John Watson 
>> *Date:* Tue, 01 Jul 2008 11:52:52 +0100
>>
>> The toughest policies - the highest use. It would be hilarious if it
>> wasn't so tragic.
> And it also has the best funded and most vocal legalisation lobbyists.
> 
> Could it be the things are connected? Does calling for legalisation,  repeatedly,
> increase use and therefore increase harm?
> 
> There was a lot of stridency about anti smoking laws (tobacco) in the UK, yet now
> we are being told after those laws have been in a while, that they have successful
> reduced smoking and improved the nations health. 
> 
> Is it therefore smart for governments to ignore the lobbyists for more use of drugs?

Not more use - less laws.  More use of cannabis doesn't really increase 
harm, given that the vast majority of users don't suffer any harm.  It's 
optional harm - governments should be supporting the people they 
represent against oppression, not oppressing them.  I can't smoke 
cannabis because it might be bad for me?  I'll make that choice thanks, 
just like I've chosen to not smoke, and to drink alcohol moderately.

Noticed at Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:04:00 +0100: Claude informed us:

> Is it therefore smart for governments to ignore the lobbyists for more
> use of drugs?

I can understand why you are shunned, people have given up engaging with
you. You are part of the problem, you've been blinded by being a customs
officer, whose powers would make the Stazi jealous, and the self-important
arrogance that goes with it, like betting your pension. You forgot when
you "retired" that you no longer have those powers and pissed off Danny
and Steve by recording your private conversations and then boasting about
it in public. You've been blinded by those evil druggies, whom you blame
for your pension debacle. When you admitted to knowing some cannabis
users, you wouldn't answer why you didn't inform the police, if it's good
enough for people you don't know, it's good enough for those you do, it'll
obviously help them. You give yourself grandiose titles and spout
rhetoric. A shrink would have a field day.

I'm plonking you, there's no point in any further discussion. You won't be
persuaded, but there are other people who may not understand what's
happening who can be persuaded (although most people online seem to
understand, judging by comments on Usenet and on newspaper message
boards - except for the Daily Mail, who have been proved only to publish
right-wing comments).

Goodbye.

Claude wrote:
<SNIP>>
> There was a lot of stridency about anti smoking laws (tobacco) in the
> UK, yet now we are being told after those laws have been in a while,
> that they have successful reduced smoking and improved the nations
> health.

But what harm would an outright ban have done?

If only there was a level playing field we would be happy. I would be quite 
happy to make smoking of anything in an enclosed public place illegal.
But why is it legal to smoke tobacco, in private but illegal to smoke the 
less harmfull cannabis - this is what we are saying makes no sense!

Slatts

"Dr John Watson"  wrote in message 
news:6d37kvFkbj3U1@mid.individual.net...
> Noticed at Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:04:00 +0100: Claude informed us:
>
>> Is it therefore smart for governments to ignore the lobbyists for more
>> use of drugs?
>
> I can understand why you are shunned, people have given up engaging with
> you. You are part of the problem.
>
Enough said. A bigger part of the problem than his sort get credit for.

Noticed at Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:27:34 +0100: JohnR informed us:


> "Dr John Watson"  wrote in message
> news:6d37kvFkbj3U1@mid.individual.net...
>> Noticed at Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:04:00 +0100: Claude informed us:
>>
>>> Is it therefore smart for governments to ignore the lobbyists for more
>>> use of drugs?
>>
>> I can understand why you are shunned, people have given up engaging
>> with you. You are part of the problem.
>>
> Enough said. A bigger part of the problem than his sort get credit for.

Flawed proceedings, illegality and incompetence.

I wonder if his pension covered the costs?

http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.politics.drugs/msg/ee8a38becad274cb

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/272251.stm

-- 
Dr John Watson
Baker Street

"Dr John Watson"  wrote in message 
news:6fgmocFb8qe5U1@mid.individual.net...
> Noticed at Fri, 01 Aug 2008 13:27:34 +0100: JohnR informed us:
>
>
>> "Dr John Watson"  wrote in message
>> news:6d37kvFkbj3U1@mid.individual.net...
>>> Noticed at Wed, 02 Jul 2008 21:04:00 +0100: Claude informed us:
>>>
>>>> Is it therefore smart for governments to ignore the lobbyists for more
>>>> use of drugs?
>>>
>>> I can understand why you are shunned, people have given up engaging
>>> with you. You are part of the problem.
>>>
>> Enough said. A bigger part of the problem than his sort get credit for.
>
> Flawed proceedings, illegality and incompetence.
>
> I wonder if his pension covered the costs?
>
> http://groups.google.co.uk/group/uk.politics.drugs/msg/ee8a38becad274cb
>
> http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/272251.stm
>
When fighting a war, a noble and righteous crusade of a war at that, trivial 
petty things like due process and the rule of national and international law 
are of no concern. Just ask B& B. Fraud is in good company indeed.