School, Church, Counting Halls – This Is Where People Take Drugs In Malta
Earlier this week a Maltese magistrate spoke out in favour of changing certain “draconian” drug laws, whilst last year Prime Minister, Joseph Muscat, said he thinks there’s a “disconnect” between drug decriminalisation law and how the police are currently handling cannabis. Meanwhile, Lovin Malta’s Drug Survey has shown that most people don’t regret having tried drugs, nor do they believe they have a drug problem.
So how much is drug use in Malta entrenched into people’s everyday lives, and should the law be moving towards understanding these patterns and adapting accordingly?
We asked people to tell us the ‘weirdest’ place they’ve ever taken drugs. The results were interesting less for their wackiness, but more for the fact that most people cited everyday scenarios – painting a clearer picture of the extent that drugs form part of Maltese everyday life.
Here’s 11 examples of places where people in Malta have taken drugs (based on 431 respondents’ answers).
1. At school
7% of the people who answered said that they had used drugs at school – once specified as secondary school.
2. In church
And 4% said they’d used drugs in or outside a church.
3. At a festa
Around 5% of the people who answered said that they’d taken drugs at local festi.
4. At the cinema
Results showed that 4% of the people who answered have done drugs at the cinema.
5. At a funeral
Whilst as few as 1% said they’d done drugs at funerals.
6. At their parent’s or Nanna’s house
Toilets, balconies, backyards, kitchens and laundry rooms belonging to parents or grandparents were all mentioned as places people took drugs.
7. In the counting hall during election night
Was listed as a place were drugs were taken.
8. At work
And 7% of the people who answered said they took drugs at work in general.
9. In a taxi
A couple of people said they took drugs while travelling in a taxi.
10. In a każin
Less than 1% said they’d taken drugs at a każin.
11. Fl-għassa
The police station was also listed as a place where drugs have been taken – painting an interesting and oxymoronic picture on just how entrenched drug use is in Maltese life.
If you still want to take the survey – go for it. All answers will be kept anonymous but may be published as part of our findings.