MOSCOW, October 5 (RIA Novosti) - A survey published by the Guardian newspaper on Sunday indicates that nearly one in three British adults has taken an illegal substance in their lifetime and a fifth of those still do, with 40 percent of British drug users sampled in the higher social classes.
Based on the survey results, 31 percent reported that they had consumed illegal drugs while 21 percent (about 3 million people) of them reported they are still using drugs. Forty percent of those who gave a positive response were in the UK's National Readership Survey social grade AB (Upper middle class to middle class).
The survey, conducted on a sample of Britain's population of 15 million by The Guardian's sister newspaper, The Observer, indicated an increase in illegal drug use, 31 percent now compared to 27 percent having used drugs in their lifetime in the survey's 2008 results.
Also, in comparison to the 2008 and prior 2002 survey, the gender gap has been closing with both women and men now equally likely to be consuming illegal drugs.
Currently, 31 percent of drug users are aged 16 to 24 with the biggest percentage of drug users (47 percent) aged 35 to 44.
While 87 percent of those who reported using drugs said that they did not have drug-related problems, one million people reported that they are still battling with breaking the habit.
Interestingly, 84 percent said they used drugs at home or at a friend's house, whereas the previous survey saw a higher number of users taking drugs in pubs, clubs and bars.
About 41 percent reported first-time drug use as early as between the age of 16 to 18 with marijuana being the most common drug accounting for 93 percent of the drugs consumed. Amphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy also had a high percentage of use (34, 29 and 25 percent respectively), representing about 3.75 to 5 million of the British population.
The most common reason for taking the illegal drugs was curiosity, but up to 8 percent of the British population spends over 200 pounds ($319) a month on drugs.
Despite half the Britons consider themselves well informed on drugs, its availability and drug-related problems, 96 percent of parents still believe that their children would never take drugs.
