Prevalence of Drug Use in the School Population in Denmark

"Ongoing surveys have been made on the experimental use of illicit drugs among the very young. The ESPAD surveys conducted in 1995, 1999, 2003, 2007 and in 2011 show an increase in the experimental use of cannabis and other illicit drugs among the 15-16-year-olds from 1995 to 1999. From this period, the experimental use stabilizes from 2007, however with minor, but significant increases in the experimental use of cannabis, ecstasy and cocaine from 2003 and onwards. From 2007 to 2011 there is a significant drop in the experimental use of the illicit drugs among the young people aged 15-16 years. For most of these drugs, this decrease is significant.
"As shown in table 2.3.1 below, a little less than 1/5 of the 15-16-year-olds has tried cannabis ever, and approximately 6% has tried cannabis within the past month. This reflects a decrease in the experimental use of cannabis among the very young Danish school children from 2007 until today, however the level is still high. As regards amphetamine, the drug has been tried by slightly less than 3%, whereas cocaine and ecstasy have been tried by approximately 2% of the young school children in 2011. This is a 50% decrease in the experimental use of these drugs from 2007 to 2011, and this drop is significant.
"The gender differences still apply in the experimental use of illicit drugs among the 15-16-year-olds and in general, more boys than girls have tried the different drugs. Only LSD, ecstasy, and sniffing have been tried by almost as many girls as boys."