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Table 3.4b Cocaine use in the general population of a number of EU-15 member states, the US,
Canada and Australia: other age groups I
Country Year Age (years) Ever use Recent use
US 2008 12 and older 14.7% 2.1%
Canada 2004 15 and older 10.6% 1.9%
United Kingdom
(England &
Wales)
2006/2007 16-59 7.7% 2.6%
Australia 2007 14 and older 5.9% 1.6%
Germany 2006 18 – 64 2.5% 0.6%
Denmark 2005 16 – 64 4.0% 1.0%
Sweden 2000 16 – 64 0.7% 0.0%
Differences in survey year, measuring methods and sampling hamper a precise comparison between
countries. Percentage of ever use and recent use (past year). I. Drug use is relatively lowest in the youngest
(12-15) and older age groups (>64). Usage figures in studies with respondents who are younger and/or older
than the EMCDDA standard may be lower than in studies using the EMCDDA standard. The opposite is the
case for studies with a more limited age range. Sources: EMCDDA, AIHW, CAS, SAMHSA
Juveniles
In the ESPAD surveys of fifteen and sixteen year old school-goers in Europe conducted
in 1999, 2003 and 2007, respondents were asked if they had ever used cocaine (Hibell
et al., 2000, 2004, 2009). In 2003 they were also asked about recent use. The data from
this project are easier to compare than data from the general population.
• Table 3.5 shows cocaine use among school-goers in a number of EU countries,
Norway, Switzerland and the US. The US did not take part in ESPAD but conducted
comparable research.
• In the US, school-goers have more frequent experience of cocaine than their peers
in most of the EU countries cited, plus Norway and Switzerland. Only the U.K., Italy
and France had the same percentage in 2007 for ever- use as the US (5%).
• The Netherlands, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland occupied a middle position
with three percent, but the differences compared to the other countries are slight.
68 Netherlands National Drug Monitor - NDM Annual Report 2009