in Europe after Czechia and Italy, even though cannabis consumption is still strictly forbidden in France. Moreover, the "zero tolerance" policy towards drugs has regained popularity in recent years. Indeed, in 2024, former Minister of Interior, Gerald Darmanin, launched the operation “Place nette,” which was supposed to step up the fight against crime,
.
Drug use on the rise
During the confinement due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic,
cannabis consumption has not decreased in France. On the contrary, only 16 percent of cannabis users stated that they had taken advantage of the months spent at home to reduce their consumption, while 27 percent consumed more. An alarming constant, possibly caused by the psychological upheavals of a long-term confinement, but not only. Indeed, drug consumption in France has been increasing for many years. For example, the share of
cocaine users went from 0.3 percent in 1992 to 2.7 percent in 2023.
Finally, drug use is a phenomenon that especially affects men, who are more likely to
experiment with all types of drugs. For instance, in 2024, 10 percent of French young men stated they consumed cannabis regularly, compared to six percent of women, and this gap also applies to other types of drugs.
The fight against drugs in France
Still prohibited and penalized in France, the hunt for drug users rages on. While a short majority of the French were in favor of depenalizing cannabis use, Gerald Darmanin and his successor Bruno Retailleau want to apply a "zero tolerance" policy towards consumers. Still, in August 2024, the number of crimes related to
drug use and drug trafficking reached its highest level since 2020. In terms of seizures, in 2023, French law enforcement agencies confiscated around six tonnes of
cannabis and almost 21 tonnes of
cocaine.
Drug use: a public health problem?
However, the effectiveness of repression is being questioned by many politicians and experts who believe drug use should be treated as a health and social problem, rather than a criminal issue. Indeed, addiction to substances is recognized by the scientific and medical community as a disease, often linked to mental illnesses, especially when used by
young people.
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