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What is the average price paid for a gram of cocaine? Which are the most enjoyable drugs to take ... and the least? Has anyone ever told you that they think you have a drinking problem?
These are some of the questions in the annual Global Drug Survey.
For the second year, Fairfax Media is partnering with the initiative, to help discover the truth about drug and alcohol use in our society. Last year more than 6600 Australians took part, making it the largest survey of current drug users ever undertaken in this country.
The survey is run by UK addiction psychiatrist and researcher Adam Winstock, and this year will run with media partners in 17 countries, across four continents and in 10 different languages.
It will be the biggest global survey of drug users ever conducted, Dr Winstock said.
“With so many partners and supporters, we are hoping for a game-changer of a survey with 50,000 to 100,000 people taking part from around the world,” he said.
Last year's Australian results revealed the huge burden of alcohol on middle-class Australia, with more than half the 6000 surveyed drinkers consuming alcohol at risky levels.
Scores had sought emergency department help, with the most common number of drinks consumed before seeking assistance being 12 standard drinks.
The survey also revealed the growing burden of prescription drug abuse, with about half of all respondents being prescribed addictive anti-anxiety and pain medication in the past year. Of those using anti-pain opioids, nearly a third said they took them to assist relaxation.
The results helped give a snapshot of drug use among those not commonly targeted in research on drug use. Overall, the 6600 respondents were an educated, healthy, heterosexual, Anglo-Saxon and well-off bunch - about a quarter earned more than $100,000 a year.
Results of the survey were published in the British Medical Journal, the Lancet and Addiction, and were used in a project called the drugs meter, where people can find out how their drug use compares to others.
Other media partners include The Huffington Post, The Guardian, Mixmag and Die Welt.
