Pubdate: Fri, 01 Mar 2002 Source: Langley Advance (CN BC) Copyright: 2002 Lower Mainland Publishing Group Inc. Contact: http://www.langleyadvance.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1248 Author: Chris Donald Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v02/n322/a07.html DRUGS: STATISTICS BACK DUTCH MODEL Dear Editor, Twice as many British teens (40%) have tried cannabis as their Dutch peers (20%), and a stunning 200 times as many British teens have tried heroin as their Dutch peers. The following statistics, published in The Observer (Feb 24, 2002), just about sum up why Britain is about to change its drug laws, which are currently very similar to ours in Canada. Keep in mind that, according to the Partnership for a Drug Free America, for the last five years the U.S. has consistently seen a rate of 50% of their high-school seniors having tried cannabis, and Canadian teens are also in the 40% to 50% range every year (CCSA). There is no comparison between the Dutch crime rates and ours in North America: they have less crime of all types, especially of the types associated with addiction, as the following statistical comparison with Britain shows. The Dutch drug-policy model has been proving for years that it is only one in the world that doesn't allow teens easy access to drugs, unlike outright prohibition, so please actually read the following statistics this year. This information must be kept in mind for any intelligent analysis drug-policy options. How Britain now outstrips Holland Sunday February 24, 2002 The Observer Population UK: 60m - Holland: 16m Teenagers who have tried cannabis UK: 40% - Holland: 20% Teenagers who have tried heroin UK: 2% - Holland: under 0.01% 'Problem' hard drug addicts UK: 250,000 - Holland: 25,000 Percentage of population robbed in past year UK: 1.4% - Holland:0.6% Percentage of population whose car was stolen in past year UK: 2.6% - Holland: under 0.5% Recent (in last month) use of cannabis by 15-year olds UK: 24% - Holland: 15% CHRIS DONALD - --- MAP posted-by: Ariel