International - Denmark

Denmark - Data

(2008 - Denmark - adult lifetime drug use) "The last survey among the general population (+16 years old, survey done by mail/web-based) carried out in 2008, indicates that lifetime prevalence of cannabis was reported by 38.6 % of the sample, last year prevalence by 5.5 % while last month prevalence by 2.2 %. In 2000, lifetime prevalence of cannabis was 31.3 % and last month prevalence of cannabis was reported by 2.8 % of the sample. Among 16–34–year olds, 48 % reported having tried cannabis at least once, 10.5 % reported amphetamines use and 9.5 % cocaine use at least once in their life. Last year prevalence of cannabis was reported by 5.5 % of aged 16–64, 1.4 % reported cocaine and 1.2 % amphetamines."

(2007 - Denmark - youth lifetime drug use) "With regard to drug use among young people, the ESPAD study has been regularly conducted in Denmark since 1995 among students, aged 15–16. Trends show that lifetime prevalence of illicit drugs increased between 1995 and 1999. This stabilised between 1999 and 2003, yet in 2007 showed a slight, yet nonetheless significant increase. Compared to 2003, in 2007 lifetime prevalence of cannabis increased from 23 % to 25 %, ecstasy from 2 % to 5 %, amphetamines from 4 % to 5 % and cocaine from 2 % to 3 %. In general, more males than females have tried most substances, with the exception of ecstasy, which has been tried by almost as many females as males."

(2007 - Denmark - treatment) "Opioids are still the most frequently-used drugs among all clients entering treatment, at 44.5 % in 2007, followed by 33.2 % for cannabis. However, cannabis is the primary drug most reported by first-time treatment clients, at 51.6 % in 2007, followed by 13.5 % for amphetamines and 17.2 % for opioids. Among opioid users entering treatment, a relevant proportion were misusing methadone."

(2007 - Denmark - HIV) "In 2007, 8 % of newly-diagnosed HIV positive persons, for which the source of infection was known, were intravenous drug users (compared to 4 % in 2004). This percentage has remained more or less the same between 5 % and 11 % over the past 10 years.

(2006 - Denmark - hepatitis) "During 1999 and 2006, the proportion of acute cases of hepatitis where the infected person has been an intravenous drug user, has been reported at approximately 1 % for hepatitis A, varying between 6 % and 37.1 % for hepatitis B and from 29 % to 60.7 % for hepatitis C."

(2006 - Denmark - drug-related deaths) "According to the National Board of Health’s Cause of Deaths register in 2006, there were a total of 227 drug-related deaths. As regards gender distribution, 73.6 % (167) were male whereas 26.4 % (60) were female. From 2000 to 2005, the number of drug-related deaths has decreased substantially from a total of 240 drug-related deaths in 2000, as compared to a total of 207 drug-related deaths in 2005. Nonetheless, for the year 2006, a slight increase (9.7 %) can be observed."

(2000 - Denmark - adult drug use) "While the use of cannabis has stabilised from 1994 to 2000, the use of 'hard' illegal drugs has increased significantly from 194 and up until today. Less than 1% of the 16-44 year-old reported in 194 that they had used hard drugs such as amphetamine, cocaine, heroin and hallucinogens within the last year, whereas even fewer had tried the hard drugs within the last month.

"As it appears from table 2.1.22, 2% of the 16-44-year-olds report in 2000 having experimented with one or several of the hard drugs within the last year, including 1% within the last month. The share of this group who report having tried hard drugs within the last month has thus increased approximately 5 times from 1994 to 2000, and the share of this group who report having tried hard drugs within the last year has gone up by more than 4 times as much during the same period."

(2000 - Denmark - prevalence of cannabis) The Danish government estimates that in 2000, approximately 3% of the population of Denmark aged 16-44 had tried cannabis in the previous month, while a total of 4% had tried cannabis within the previous year. This compares with estimates from 1994 of 2% having used in the previous month, and 5% in the previous year.

The Danish National Board of Health reported in 2000 that "It is primarily the young segment of the population (16-24 years of age) who have smoked cannabis within the last year, both in 1994 and 2000. More men than women report in 1994 and in 2000 that they have experimented with cannabis within the last month and last year. The difference in consumption between the two genders is, however, least pronounced among the young segments of the population - among the 16-24-year-olds."

(1999 - Denmark - syringe exchange) "Syringes and needles distributed free of charge are still much in demand. Thus, since 1986 the city of Copenhagen has made syringes and needles available free of charge through pharmacists, dispensing machines, hostels and other outlets. In 1999, a total of 613,932 sets were distributed, which is a small decline compared to 1998. Furthermore, an increasing number of separate needles were dispensed."

(1995 & 1999 - Denmark - youth cannabis use) "In 1995, more than 17% of the 15-16 year-olds report ever having tried cannabis. There was a significant increase in 1999 where the share that state having ever tried cannabis is over 24%. 8% had used it within the last month; in 1995 this was 6%. There are great differences in experimental use between boys and girls in 1999 when 30% of boys and 19% of girls state having ever used cannabis. Twice as many boys as girls had used cannabis during the last month."

(1995 - Denmark - HIV and intravenous drug use) "In 1995, the proportion of first-time HIV-positive where the source of infection has been reported as being intravenous-injecting drug addiction is 11% (34 persons). The percentage dropped to 6% (13 persons) in 1998 and had again gone up to 9% (24 persons) in 1999. Based on the data provided by the HIV reporting system, 'Statens Sterum Institut' has estimated that the spread of the infection among drug addicts has dropped since the mid-80s. It is assumed that less than 4% of the drug addicts are HIV-infected. This estimate is based on the analysis, under which there are 11,000 injecting drug users in Denmark."

Denmark - Law and Policy

(Denmark - drug law) "In Denmark possession of narcotics is a criminal offence. However a guideline of 1971, on legal process in drugs cases, stipulates that it was not the intention of the drug law to criminalize the use of drugs and corresponding possession of drugs for own consumption."

(Denmark - cannabis law) ".. in Denmark, a 1992 circular issued by the State Prosecutor’s Office (the first was dated 1969) requests prosecutors to impose less severe measures for possession of cannabis for personal use (⁵²). However in 2004, a new law and a new circular have intensified efforts against the possession of drugs. With this new law the police warning, that beforehand settled a case is now substituted by a fine."

(Denmark - cannabis law) "In Denmark, a May 2004 amendment to the Euphoriant Substances Act, together with a public prosecutor's circular, stated that the possession of drugs for own use will now normally be punishable by a fine rather than the warnings issued previously."

(Denmark - policy) "In connection with the adoption of the Budget for 2002, the Government decided to abolish the National Narcotics Council. Based on a desire to strengthen the services provided to the weakest group of people in society and create a framework for a coherent and overall strategy, the Government announced its action program for the weakest groups in March 2002 under the heading: Our common responsibility. The council has been appointed to fulfil the needs of the weakest groups, in particular the homeless, drug addicts, prostitutes, the mentally ill and alcoholic addicts. The aim of the council is to represent a group of people who have difficulties in being heard."

(Denmark - harm reduction) "Harm reduction activities are part of the Social Welfare Act. In addition to treatment services, projects have been implemented with the aim to reduce or minimise drug-related harm for chronic drug users. Such projects include, for example, outreach street plan work, drop-in centres, syringe exchange programmes and social support at home. Syringe exchange schemes have been established in Denmark since 1986. In most cases, pharmacies administer the scheme either through dispensing and sales at pharmacies or through dispensing machines with clean needles in public sites. Some municipalities also dispense needles and syringes through shelters and boarding houses. the latest estimates (2005) indicates that about 910 000 syringes were distributed through needle exchange programmes."

(Denmark - drug policy) "Danish drug policy is based on persistent and targeted prevention intervention, multi-pronged optional co-ordinated treatment and effective control.

"Drug prevention policy rests on the principle of prohibition of drugs, a high level of information as well as action to impact on social conditions. In this connection, it is especially a deprived childhood, too little contact with adults and marginalisation in relation to education and training which results in a small group of young people becoming vulnerab to the experimental use of drugs, which subsequently, in many cases, leads to actual addiction."

(Denmark - drug laws) "Where possession of drugs is meant for own consumption, such an offence is punishable by a fine provided that it is not repeated. For first offences, possession of very small quantities for own use normally results in the police issuing a warning to the person in question."