Narcotic drug abuse in 152 countries: social and economic conditions as predictors.

This study examines the relationships between the level of narcotic drug abuse and the prevailing socioeconomic and health conditions and education levels in 152 countries. Drug abuse, as classified in this paper, is related to socioeconomics, health, and education in complex ways. The data do not support the proposition that drug abuse is more common among technologically developed societies than among developing ones. The best predictors of drug abuse were those related to health.