Drugs and drug addictions: indicators and trends 2002

Since 1999, public policy has been moving towards a new approach, which aims to treat all users of psychoactive substances, regardless of their legal status. This approach, while recognising the specific medical and social characteristics of each product, places the emphasis on the notion of user behaviour rather than that of the product.

The report comprises three sections. The first section deals in a transversal approach to the different drugs concerned, with the measurement of the 'drugs' phenomenon in France and the description if its characteristics: the perception and opinions of the French on the subject, the consumption of drugs, the health, social and penal consequences, the supply of drugs, and finally, geographic consumption. This part also covers certain aspects specific to illicit drugs, across the range of drugs. 

The second part is a product-by-product breakdown of the analysis plan of the preceding transversal approach. The chapters therein might appear partially redundant due to the editorial line used, to encourage autonomous reading of each chapter. 

The third part is devoted to the presentation of the legal and institutional framework covering the consumption of drugs in France. Going beyond a simple reminder of the principal legal provisions in relation to the different drugs, this part retraces the recent developments in public policies since the publication of the previous edition of the 'Indicators and Trends' report. It then outlines the structures and means implemented by the public authorities to tackle the phenomenon. Certain areas, such as prevention, which were only touched on, in the previous edition, have been particularly developed.