The distribution of consumption of alcohol and marihuana

Ledermann reported in 1956 that the distribution of consumption of alcohol in different populations could be related as a first approximation to a nor mal logarithmic mode. In the present study, the distribution of alcohol con sumption (in decaliters per week) in a group of 180 oil rig workers was com puted using probability logarithmic scales. A cumulative distribution of ra tes was established by calculating the proportion in the population that us ed alcohol in increasing amounts. The weekly consumption of alcohol in this population (1983) follow a log normal distribution similar to that reporte d by Ledermann on a group of 93 consumers (the slope of the two curves are -0.75 and -0.73 respectively). The same method was used to analyze the cumu lative frequency of marihuana use among American high school seniors during the period 1975-1981. When plotted on probability logarithmic scale, the f it of a straight line is excellent for frequency of marihuana use among tho se who had ever used marihuana The percentage of daily marihuana smokers re present 12-17% of the population of consumers. Other studies of lifetime pr evalence of Cannabis use in French or Canadian adolescents also display a l og normal distribution. The weekly consumption of Cannabis among the male p opulation over age 15 in three Jamaican villages follow a log normal distri bution with 64% of the sample of 418 smokers consuming 4-10 g a day of the drug. A survey of coca leaf chewing among Peruvian miners reports that over 90% of them chew the leaf and 80% are daily chewers consuming 40-60 g of l eaves (400-600 mg cocaine base). These data suggest the consumption of psyc hoactive euphoriant drugs more potent than alcohol (Cannabis, cocaine) may be associated with a significantly higher rate of intake (daily intoxicatin g dose) when they are socially acceptable and freely available.