Wednesday, 20th August 2008
EU survey
Malta third for ease of access to hard drugs
Fifty-two per cent of Maltese young people perceive cannabis to be very risky.
Maltese youngsters consider heroin and cocaine to be relatively easy to obtain compared to most other EU member states, according to a recent Eurobarometer survey about young people's attitudes towards drugs.
Only 44 per cent of Maltese respondents said that cocaine is difficult to obtain, while 33 per cent said it is easy and 13 per cent said they do not know.
A slim majority (53 per cent) of Maltese respondents said it would be difficult to acquire heroin, with 33 per cent saying it would be fairly or very easy, and 15 per cent saying they do not know.
Access to heroin seems to be easier in only two other EU countries - Lithuania and Bulgaria, and more difficult in all other states, especially Finland and France.
The study, which was carried out in May with 15-24 year olds, places Malta in third place when it comes to ease of access to cocaine, following Ireland and Spain.
Another section of the survey dealt with the perceived health risks posed by each individual drug including alcohol and tobacco.
Malta's young people are the least among other EU member states to think cocaine poses a serious health risk.
Along with the UK respondents, 20 per cent of the Maltese believe that cocaine only poses a medium risk to a person's health.
In contrast, 52 per cent of Maltese young people perceive cannabis to be very risky, making Malta the fifth ranking country in the EU to fear cannabis.
Malta is the third most fearless, however, when it comes to tobacco and alcohol with only 19 per cent of young people thinking that tobacco poses a high health risk, and only 11 per cent thinking the same of alcohol.
Malta places fifth for ease of access to ecstasy, with 49 per cent saying it is very or fairly easy to obtain.
But the trend changes when it comes to cannabis, with Malta placing more centrally in the table with a substantial 38 per cent saying cannabis is very or fairly difficult to acquire.
This can be compared to countries like Spain and Czech Republic, where only 15 and 17 per cent respectively said there was any difficulty in obtaining the soft drug.
Surprisingly, in the Netherlands where cannabis can be bought from coffee shops, 17 per cent of the young respondents said that acquiring cannabis is very difficult.
The survey also shows the Maltese to have most faith in the treatment and rehabilitation of drug users, with 20 per cent saying it is the most effective way to deal with drug problems in society.
Thirty-seven per cent think that the most effective measure is to be tough with drug dealers and traffickers, whereas 35 per cent believe mostly in information and prevention campaigns.
Nine per cent propose legalisation to deal with the drug problems of society, compared to only four per cent who think that tough measures against drug users are the most effective.
Malta featured low in the ranks of those who want hard drugs to continue to be banned, with a relatively high percentage (six per cent) wanting heroin, cocaine and ecstasy to be regulated similarly to tobacco and alcohol.
Higher still is the percentage (17 per cent) of those who believe cannabis should not be banned - although this percentage is relatively low compared to the rest of the EU member states.
According to seven per cent of Maltese young people, alcohol should be banned, whereas 12 per cent think the same of tobacco.
Like the vast majority of Europeans, most Maltese young people tend to search for information about illicit drugs and drug use via the internet.
But a high percentage of Maltese also seek advice from specialised drugs counsellors or centres, as well as parents and relatives.
The percentage of Maltese young people who ask friends for advice about drugs was lower than the majority of the EU member states.
Fifty-nine per cent of Maltese respondents said they were informed, about the effects and risks of illicit drug use, by media campaigns - the highest percentage in all EU member states. Other informative channels for Maltese young people include the internet and school prevention programmes.
The results of the survey, which was carried out by the European Commission, emerged through telephone interviews conducted with 12,000 young people from the 27 EU member states.
In Malta 250 young people took part in the survey, ensuring a representative sample.
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Comments
"He sees one significant difference in attitudes. Maltese look upon drug abuse as being cool while the attitude in Holland is that drug users are nothing short of hamalli."
drug users in holland can be normal people, they are maybe more responsible but not hamalli... maltese do abuse drugs though... maybe cos of the lack of entertainment that it offer?!?
Indeed Drugs have always been around. The issue is how we, as a nation/society, deal with it.
Very poorly, in my opinion.
That the problem is widespread is not a surprise. Join me any morning to count the number of syringes one finds scattered in specific areas.
Gang warfare has nothing to do with drugs. Gangs use drugs as they use knives and guns and have sex. We do not have a gang culture in Malta-yet.
The report is reliable proof of the accessibility of drugs. In a way it enforces perception and is not surprising.
To rubbish the findings is therefore hugely disappointing. We can not start controlling a problem unless we accept we have one...assuming that we want to control the situation, that is.
And what is Government's role in all this. Massive I say.
A Dutch acquaintance was remarking on how Drugs issues are more intense in Malta than Holland where Government adopts a liberal Drugs policy.
He sees one significant difference in attitudes. Maltese look upon drug abuse as being cool while the attitude in Holland is that drug users are nothing short of hamalli.
What message does our media send out?
If this report is to be taken as a sort of a yardstick, then we have a massive problem that involves us all.
The incredible thing that this report failed to mention is that for drugs to be so accessible here in the islands means that not enough has be done by all the authorites.
Simply writing, drugs can enter Malta in two ways either by air or by sea as we are an island not like mainland Europe. Therefore it should be harder for the drug barons, dealers and pushers (all the evil ring) to find a way how to import these drugs. So there is an enormous problem in the security of our air/seaports/freeports/marinas.
It might be very possible that the Police/Customs are either helpless or these drug trafficers are quite smart or lets face it someone is on the take.
Without making a political mountain out of this report what can this Government can do as it is solely the Government ultimate responsibilty to ensure that Malta would not be third for the ease of access to hard drugs!
A very nice advert for our islands!
Rotten Branded Bananas
@Nik Xuereb: A Daley - I think you've missed the point. This is not a political issue. It's people with your mentality that are considered to be obstacles to progress in our society. Try to be constructive next time you post a comment. - unquote.
@ Victoria Grech – Well pointed out.
Why is there a picture of a marjuana joint when the article title concerns hard drugs? Is the newspaper trying to send the wrong message here?
I haven't been to paceville for ages, but my friends tell me that it is extremely common to find people snorting coke in bathrooms. What about the 6th form in Msida, my friends daughter started there last year, and apparently everyone knows where to go if you need 'something'. So I ask if we the common citizen encounter these situations, how come the authorities don’t. A few weeks ago after this paper reported that a pusher was arrested in Fgura, many were those who commented that just the one arrest was a joke, as the area mentioned was full of pushers and drug addicts.
I am of the opinion that this is a political issue. Government is responsible for all aspects relating to law and order, has a significant hold on the media that shapes opinions (how does the media treat this terrible scourge?).
The Drug problem in our 'small' community is so widespread that the Governing class can not treat the matter as f it were bad weather.
If we absolve Government from it onerous responsibilities, we might then as well issue a call for expression of interest to privatise Government too.
This is the REAL THREAT TO OUR KIDS AND FAMILIES.
This is the REAL THREAT TO OUR FUTURE
Our drug and alcohol addict kids can never make a good future for Malta.
Bil-PN fil gvern, il-pajjiz iwarrad bis-sbuhija.
Lovely, lovely!
What's that smell? Can one smell cocaine?
In all fairness this survey is most inconsistent and inaccurate. Interviewing 250 people surely can not project the view of a whole nation. Whom ever conducted this survey has definitaly wasted a good amount of time and resources.
This can be easily noticed especially when you look at last weekends headlines.
What is especially worrying is that heroin is many times more available than cannabis. During periods when cannabis is "out of stock" due to drug busts, heroine becomes a popular substitute and unfortunately gets youngsters hooked.
Maybe tolerance on the soft drugs is in order.
It must be that easy.