Data on the prevalence and patterns of illicit drug use in the general population are drawn from the Santé publique France Health Barometer (among adults aged 18–64) and analyses conducted by the OFDT (Observatory of Drugs and Drug Trends). In France, cannabis is by far the most commonly used illicit substance, with nearly 5 million people (aged 11–64) having used it in the past year, followed by cocaine (600,000) and MDMA/Ecstasy (400,000). Regardless of the substance, men use drugs more than women.

Cannabis

Cannabis remains the most commonly used illicit drug

In 2021, cannabis remains widespread among the population: 47% of adults have tried it at least once. One in 10 adults has used cannabis at least once in the past year. France is one of the European countries with the highest proportion of users aged 15–34, according to the 2021 EMCDDA report (European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction).

In 2021, usage levels remain two to three times higher among men than among women, particularly given that consumption is intensive.

• Learn more: Cannabis use levels in France in 2021 (OFDT)

Stabilization of cannabis use

After a nearly constant increase since 1992, the stabilization of current cannabis use that began in 2014 is confirmed in 2021.

Consumption is declining among younger people, who nevertheless remain the primary users

Use over the past year decreases gradually with age, falling from 26.3% among young adults aged 18–25 to 16% among adults aged 26–34, 10% among those aged 35–44, and 2% among older adults (55–64). Use in the past month, whether regular (3.0%) or daily (1.7%), remains predominant among younger people despite the decline observed in 2021.

More frequent cannabis use among those over 30

The majority of those who have tried cannabis are now over 30, and annual use increasingly involves people in their 30s and 40s. This trend suggests that some of the first generations of users have not stopped using cannabis as they have aged.

As a result, the average age of annual cannabis users continues to rise: it increased from 25.1 years to 32.8 years between 1992 and 2021.

At the regional level

Levels of cannabis experimentation and use vary across regions, but a pattern emerges showing that the southern half of France generally has higher levels of use than the northern half.

In the overseas departments and regions (DROM), the proportion of users is lower than in mainland France but characterized by more frequent and intensive consumption.

Problematic cannabis use

In 2017, the proportion of users in the past year at high risk of problematic use or dependence had been increasing since 2014, rising from 21% to 25%. These at-risk users accounted for nearly 3% of all 18- to 64-year-olds in 2017.
While the high risk of problematic use peaks at 28% among users aged 26 to 44, this level varies little by age. In fact, among those aged 45 to 64, more than 20% of users also present a high risk of problematic use.

Other illicit psychoactive substances

Note: The available data on the prevalence of use of illicit drugs other than cannabis in the general population are from the 2017 Santé publique France Health Barometer.

Levels of experimentation with other illicit drugs

As with cannabis, levels of experimentation with other illicit drugs vary considerably depending on the gender and age of individuals.

Prevalence of illicit psychoactive substance use (excluding cannabis) by age and gender among people aged 18–64 in 2017 (in %)

Source: Levels of illicit drug use in France in 2017 (OFDT)

Cocaine

Cocaine experimentation appears to be stabilizing (1.2% in 1995 vs. 5.6% in 2014 and 2017) although annual use continues to rise, increasing from 0.2% in 1995 to 1.6%, making this substance the second most commonly used illicit drug in the past year after cannabis.

MDMA / Ecstasy

Experimentation with MDMA / Ecstasy increased slightly between 2014 and 2017, rising from 4.3% to 5.0%. This increase is driven by those aged 35 and older. Experimentation with crack (cocaine base prepared for smoking) remained relatively stable in 2017 (0.7% vs. 0.6% in 2014), as did annual use, which remains at a very low level in the general population (0.2%)

Hallucinogenic mushrooms

Slightly up from 2014 (4.8%), experimentation with hallucinogenic mushrooms affects 5.3% of respondents.

Other illicit substances

Among other illicit substances, experimentation rates are below 3%. They have not changed between 2014 and 2017. LSD remains at 2.7% of users among 18- to 64-year-olds, amphetamines at 2.3%, and heroin at 1.3%. Use of these substances is very rare in the general population (0.2% to 0.3%).

Changes in annual use of the main illicit drugs other than cannabis between 1992 and 2017, among 18- to 64-year-olds (in %)