Attitude of the Norwegian population to drug policy and drug‐offences

Abstract

A national survey on people's conceptions of various intoxicants and their attitudes towards such substances shows a high degree of support in Norway for the current very restrictive drug policy. Only 6% were in favour of a more liberal practice with regard to use of cannabis. The attitudes had changed little from 1968, when a similar study was carried out. Even a majority of those who reported having used cannabis themselves said that all use should be prohibited. A comparison of the crime of possessing quite a small quantity of cannabis with other commonplace violations of the law showed that the drug offence was considered a serious crime. Although the penalties for drug offences have been raised dramatically several times since the end of the 1960s, a majority still said that the punishment prescribed by the Norwegian law for being involved with drugs is too mild.

The global epidemiology of anabolic-androgenic steroid use: a meta-analysis and meta-regression analysis

“…It can therefore be inferred that, apart from the enervating physical and psychological consequences previously discussed, perceptions of AAS use harms the social image or personality of the perceived user in line with findings from previous investigations (Chantal et al, 2009(Chantal et al, , 2013Long, 1991;Schwerin & Corcoran, 1992;Van Raalte et al, 1993). This finding is explainable by the negative attitude towards AAS use and use of other doping methods in Norway (Breivik, Hanstad, & Loland, 2009;Skretting, 1993) as well as the illegal status of AAS use in Norway (Pallesen et al, 2014). findings from a recent review of adolescent-tailored preventive interventions (Petróczi et al, 2014) which found that messages addressing the harmful effects of AAS use on perceptions of the social image or personality of the user may be a more efficient mode of combating AAS use rather than highlighting only the harmful psychophysical effects of AAS use.…”

Cannabis use and support for cannabis legalization

“…A 1989 study from Norway shows that 65 % of cannabis users were in favor of prohibition of cannabis while among non-users this was 95 % (Skretting 1993). This study also finds that those who use cannabis do not consider drug possession as a serious crime possibly because of self-interest.…”

The opinion on Dutch cannabis policy measures: A cross-sectional survey

“…Other studies about public opinion on cannabis policy measures indicate also that cannabis use history had a significant effect on respondents' opinion on the level of severity towards offences when using cannabis (Fetherston & Lenton, 2005;Lenton & Ovenden, 1996). Skretting (1993) found that persons who used cannabis themselves and/or had friends who had used the drug were more liberal towards drug use. As for the substance of alcohol, consumption level had the greatest impact on public opinion due to alcohol policy measures (Giesbrecht & Greenfield, 1999).…”

“…Some studies have been conducted in Norway (Skretting, 1993) and Australia (Fetherston & Lenton, 2005;Lenton & Ovenden, 1996). Skretting (1993) found a high degree of public support for policy that prohibits all associations with drugs among the Norwegian population.…”

“…Some studies have been conducted in Norway (Skretting, 1993) and Australia (Fetherston & Lenton, 2005;Lenton & Ovenden, 1996). Skretting (1993) found a high degree of public support for policy that prohibits all associations with drugs among the Norwegian population. This was in contrast to Lenton and Ovenden (1996) and Fetherston and Lenton (2005) whose data indicated considerable support for decriminalizing simple cannabis offenses among the Western Australian population.…”