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AIMS: The aim is to describe the development of the availability, attitudes to, and personal use of illegal drugs among the adult population in Norway, based on survey data from 1968 until today. Compared with data on young people, the data on drugs for the adult population have been collected more rarely, and results have not been widely reported. DATA AND METHOD: Surveys directed to the adult population with questions about drugs were performed in 1968, 1985, 1991, 1994, 1999 and 2004. The samples are selected in a three stage stratifi ed quota procedure, and are representative for the whole adult population age 15 years and over. The data were collected with a face-to-face interview, mainly about alcohol. The drug questions were answered in writing, and in such a way that the interviewer did not see the answers. The availability of all kinds of drugs was measured by asking if the respondents think they could get hold of it in 2-3 days. RESULTS: The availability of drugs has increased. In 2004, some 35 per cent said they could get hold of cannabis, while some 20 per cent could get other drugs. The attitudes towards own use were measured by asking if the respondents would try the drugs if it was not illegal. In 2004 about 8 per cent were positive about trying cannabis, with less than 2 per cent for all the other drugs. The attitudes have not varied much for any of the drugs between 1994 and 2004 and for cannabis have been rather stable since 1968. Lifetime prevalence of cannabis use has increased continuously since 1968, and was about 13.5 per cent in 2004. Last year prevalence increased until 1994, but has stabilised at about 3.7 per cent since then. For other drugs the lifetime prevalence has been stable at less than 2 per cent, with around 3 per cent for amphetamines. Last year, the prevalence of these drugs was less than 1 per cent, possibly with a slightly decreasing tendency. For cannabis the highest prevalence (both lifetime, previous year, and previous 30 days) is in the age group 20-24 years. CONCLUSION: The results are somewhat contrary to reports about increased problematic drug use in Norway during the 1990s. Survey methods are however not the best method to estimate problem drug use. The stability and even tendency to decrease of the prevalence of present drug use shown here might, however, indicate a decrease in the recruitment of problem drug users. Other signs point in the same direction: The sharp increase in drugrelated deaths in Norway during the 1990s has given way to a decrease in the latest years. The prevalence of present drug use in youth surveys shows a decreasing trend.

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