A quarter of Americans would use recreational drugs if there were no harmful effects. Over a third of Americans thought they might dabble if there were going to be no legal consequences either.
Potential users in this consequence-free drug utopia were primarily younger responders. Forty-two percent of the 16-34 year olds responding said the would take drugs if there were no harmful side effects or likely criminal outcome but only 24% of the over 55 year olds were tempted.
Drugs seem to be readily available for those who want them. When asked what drugs they would be able to source in 24 hours the most obviously available was marijuana. 37 percent were confident they would be able to buy marijuana, 27% thought they could source prescription painkillers, 12 percent cocaine, and 9% methamphetamines or ecstasy.
Supplies of heroin and the dissociative and psychedelic drugs PCP (Angel Dust), psilocybin (magic mushrooms) and LSD seem harder to come by. Less than 5% of responders were confident of finding a source for any of these within 24 hours.
US Department of Health and Human Services: percent of persons 12 years of age and over with any illicit drug use in the past month: 8.0% (2008)
