Research project:

Drug laws: Knowledge, attitudes and actions of university students

Drug laws in the UK are a hot topic of debate, especially in the media. However, few (if any) in-depth analyses of young people's beliefs about illegal drugs and the law exist.

135 university students, 56% female and average age 18.9 years, filled in a questionnaire concerning their:

• Knowledge and attitudes towards drug laws
• Current alcohol and drug use
• Likely use of drugs if all drugs were made legal
• Concerns over being caught in possession of various illegal drugs.
  

57% had tried an illegal drug, with 23% having done so "many times". The most commonly tried drug was cannabis (53% tried).

The majority of students believed that:

• cannabis is class C (it is actually class B), and underestimated the legal consequences of possession and supply.
  
  
• drug laws are not working and chose 'partial prohibition' from four options. They considered drug problems as a health/social, rather than a criminal justice, issue.
  
  
• cannabis should be legalised, whilst other drugs should remain illegal but have lesser penalties.
  
  
• if all drugs were made legal, cannabis use would increase, but amphetamine, ecstasy, cocaine, LSD and heroin use would not.
  
  
• the most likely reason for stopping drug use would be a bad drug experience for themselves or a friend; few respond to government advice to stop.
  
  
• if they were caught using cannabis, the offence would be ignored by the police or they would receive a warning.
  
  
• it's very unlikely that cannabis use would lead to a prison sentence. It is also fairly unlikely that use of ecstasy or cocaine would lead to imprisonment.

Detailed summary available in pdf format