French opinions and perceptions of drugs in 2023

Tobacco and alcohol are considered more dangerous in 2023 than in 1999

Tobacco and alcohol are now more widely perceived as being dangerous, even in low doses. In the case of tobacco, the proportion of French people who consider it to be dangerous even in lifetime use has increased (from 22% in 1999 to 27% in 2023), as has the proportion who consider even occasional use to be dangerous (from 1% in 1999 to 17% in 2023). With regard to alcohol, the proportion who consider it dangerous only in daily use has fallen (from 84% in 1999 to 71% in 2023).

The perceived dangerousness of cannabis and cocaine is decreasing

While the feeling of being well informed about drugs rose between 1999 and 2018, it fell in 2023, particularly among women (from 71% to 68% among men and from 65% to 58% among women). In contrast to tobacco and alcohol, the perceived dangerousness of cannabis is falling sharply, from 54% of French people who considered it dangerous even in lifetime use in 1999, to 38% in 2023. In 10 years, the proportion of French people who spontaneously mentioned cocaine among the drugs they know about has risen substantially, from 64% in 2012 to 74% in 2023. Views on cocaine are very different between people who have used it themselves and those who have never used it. In particular, 74% of French people who have used cocaine (compared to 22% who have not) consider that it helps them to "have fun and party", almost half (44% compared to 14%) that it is a "way of improving performance", and almost a quarter that it is "possible to live a normal life while using cocaine" (24% compared to 6%).

Strong acceptance of harm reduction measures

As far as public policies are concerned, the French continue to express support for harm reduction schemes, in particular Addiction Care Centres (Haltes Soins Addictions or HSAs, formerly SCMR). Seventy-three per cent of respondents support the creation of such centres, although only 20% would accept one in their own neighbourhood. Support for educational measures (drug warnings, work placements) remains high (81% and 67% respectively), but opinions on the penal response are hardening: 35% of French people now believe that prison sentences are a "good thing" for cannabis users, against 23% in 2018.