On the basis of survey data and estimates, various Western European countries are compared with regard to the prevalence of cannabis use and the use of hard drugs. The data do not indicate a link with the type of drug policy. Liberal countries do not have higher or lower rates than countries with a more repressive policy. Informal social norms seem to be of greater relevance than formal legal norms and availability of drugs. Therefore, the question cannot be: ‘What type of effects arise out of which type of policy?’, but ‘Under which social and cultural conditions what type of policy has which type of effects?’

Keywords:
Drug policy, Epidemiology, Prevalence of drugs
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© 1995 S. Karger AG, Basel
1995
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