An overwhelming majority of Russians are confident that light drugs are as harmful as any other drugs.
MOSCOW, August 9, 2010. Russian Public Opinion Research Center (VCIOM) presents the data describing the following issues: if Russians know someone among their friends who uses drugs, and what their attitude about free sale and use of light drugs is.
Although a majority of Russians say they do not know anyone who uses drugs, the share of such respondents has declined over the recent six months (from 73 to 68%). They are basically Urals` residents (78%), Russians living in middle-sized cities (74%) and respondents of pre-retirement and retirement age (73-76%). At the same time, the share of those who do not know those among friends who use drugs but they accept such a possibility has gone up (19%, in 2004 - 13%). They are basically southerners (30%), Muscovites and St.Petersburgians (31%), as well as those respondents aged 18-24 (26%).
Almost every eighth Russian reports he/she knows someone who uses dugs (12%). They are basically respondents residing in Siberia (23%), metropolitan residents (17%) and those aged younger than 35 (18%).
An overwhelming majority of Russians oppose the statement that light drugs are less harmful to health than the hard ones and can be freely sold and used for free; the share of such respondents have grown up over the recent years from 85 to 90%. Those who share this viewpoint are Russians who do not know anyone who uses drugs among friends, Russians who do not know anything about that (91-92%), as well as respondents aged above 34 (90-93%). Only 7% oppose the statement - basically those who know someone among friends who uses drugs (15%) and Russians younger than 45 (8-10%).
The initiative Russian opinion polls were conducted on July 17-18, 2010. 1600 respondents were interviewed at 140 sampling points in 42 regions of Russia. The margin of error doesnot exceed 3.4%.
Do you know anyone among your relatives/friends who uses drugs? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2004 | 2010 |
Yes | 13 | 12 |
No, I do not know such people | 73 | 68 |
They might be but I do not know them | 13 | 19 |
Hard to tell | 1 | 2 |
Do you know anyone among your relatives/friends who uses drugs? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||||
| Total respondents | 18-24 years | 25-34 years | 35-44 years | 45-59 years | 60 and above |
Yes | 12 | 18 | 18 | 9 | 10 | 7 |
No, I do not know such people | 68 | 56 | 62 | 66 | 73 | 76 |
They might be but I do not know them | 19 | 26 | 19 | 23 | 16 | 15 |
Hard to tell | 2 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 |
There is an opinion that light drugs are not harmful to health and can be freely distributed and used like tobacco or alcohol? Do you agree with this statement? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||
| 2004 | 2010 |
Rather yes | 9 | 7 |
Rather no | 85 | 90 |
Hard to tell | 6 | 3 |
There is an opinion that light drugs are not harmful to health and can be freely distributed and used like tobacco or alcohol? Do you agree with this statement? (close-ended question, one answer) | ||||
| Total respondents | I have friends/relatives who use drugs | I do not have friends/relatives who use drugs | I am not sure if I know someone who uses drugs |
Rather yes | 7 | 15 | 6 | 6 |
Rather no | 90 | 82 | 92 | 91 |
Hard to tell | 3 | 3 | 3 | 2 |
Note: Using materials from the site www.wciom.ru or wciom.com, as well as distributed by VCIOM, the reference to the source (or hyperlink for the electronic media) is obligatory!