Attitudes to legal framework changes in the field of drugs and drug addictions (2016 – 2022)

Prevalence of psychoactive substance use
Prevalence of medication use
Prevalence of drug use
Drug Prevention
Treatment Supply
Treatment Demand
Health consequences
Harm reduction
Drug-related crimes
Drug market
Drug use and prison
Monitoring of publications
Attitudes to legal framework changes

Attitude of university students in Bulgaria to some statements and proposals for changes in the legislation in the field of drugs and drug addiction (in %)

Accept (2018) Accept (2022)Not accept (2018) Not accept (2022) Don’t know (2018)Don’t know (2022)
Drug abuse is a criminal act and must be solved with imprisonment57.5%55.1%19.0%20.0%23.4%24.9%
Drug abuse is an offense and must be solved with an administrative sanction (fine)66.0%63.9%16.4%16.7%17.7%19.5%
Drug abuse is a sign of disease and must not be punished21.6%21.4%52.3%50.8%26.1%27.8%
The cannabis production should be allowed for medical purposes45.7%46.7%25.1%22.9%29.3%30.4%
The possession of cannabis in small doses (up to 1 gram) should be allowed26.0%29.2%47.3%42.9%26.7%27.9%
The possession of heroin in small doses (1-2) should be allowed9.3%8.9%70.8%70.1%19.8%21.0%
The law should introduce minimum doses of each type of drug, for the possession of which no penalties are imposed12.4%13.2%64.3%62.7%23.3%24.1%
Source: National representative studies on attitudes and use of psychoactive substances among the university students in Bulgaria, carried out in 2018 and 2022 by order and with the methodological support of the National Focal Point on Drugs and Drug Addictions (sample: 4050 university students in 2018, 4012 university students in 2022).

Attitude of school students in Bulgaria to some statements and proposals for changes in the legislation in the field of drugs and drug addiction (in %)

Accept (2017) Accept (2021)Not accept (2017)Not accept (2021)Don’t know (2017)Don’t know (2021)
Drug abuse is a criminal act and must be solved with imprisonment44.0%48.2%21.0%22.3%35.0%29.5%
Drug abuse is an offense and must be solved with an administrative sanction (fine)54.2%59.6%16.7%17.0%29.1%23.5%
Drug abuse is a sign of disease and must not be punished18.6%22.1%44.9%45.6%36.5%32.3%
The cannabis production should be allowed for medical purposes45.9%20.9%33.2%
The possession of cannabis in small doses (up to 1 gram) should be allowed28.0%28.4%35.9%37.4%36.1%34.2%
The possession of heroin in small doses (1-2) should be allowed12.9%9.8%53.8%62.0%33.3%28.3%
The law should introduce minimum doses of each type of drug, for the possession of which no penalties are imposed21.3%14.8%43.2%54.7%35.5%30.5%
Source: National representative studies on attitudes and use of psychoactive substances among the school students in Bulgaria, carried out in 2017 and 2021 by order and with the methodological support of the National Focal Point on Drugs and Drug Addictions (sample: 3700 school students in 2017, 4109 school students in 2021).

Attitude of general population (aged 15-64) in Bulgaria to some statements and proposals for changes in the legislation in the field of drugs and drug addiction (in %)

Accept (2016) Accept (2020)Not accept (2016)Not accept (2020)Don’t know (2016)Don’t know (2020)
Drug abuse is a criminal act and must be solved with imprisonment58.2%61.3%18.7%14.5%23.1%24.2%
Drug abuse is an offense and must be solved with an administrative sanction (fine)55.6%64.5%21.1%12.8%23.3%22.7%
Drug abuse is a sign of disease and must not be punished25.6%21.5%46.4%50.0%28.1%28.5%
The cannabis production should be allowed for medical purposes43.3%21.8%34.8%
The possession of cannabis in small doses (up to 1 gram) should be allowed23.7%16.5%54.1%51.8%22.2%31.7%
The possession of heroin in small doses (1-2) should be allowed7.4%69.2%23.5%
The law should introduce minimum doses of each type of drug, for the possession of which no penalties are imposed12.8%11.1%65.3%62.6%21.9%26.3%
Source: National representative studies on attitudes and use of psychoactive substances among the general population (aged 15-64) in Bulgaria, carried out in 2016 and 2020 by order and with the methodological support of the National Focal Point on Drugs and Drug Addictions (sample: 4000 people in 2016, 3838 people in 2020).