There are no official statistics for the consumption of licit and illicit psychoactive substances in Lebanon. The little existing data is not as reliable as one can expect. This is due to the small scope and arbitrary choice of the samples selected, the methodology used and the lack of continuity in the studies. Nevertheless, most of the field workers involved estimate the number of drug abusers to be at around 10,000 to 15,000 people. This figure is constantly rising.

Statistics show that amongst a population of drug addicts, the consumption rate varies between :
Heroine 59%, Cannabis 34%, Cocaine 31%, Amphetamine 31% and Alcohol 30%.

In spite of statistical limitations, we note that all levels of society are affected by the drug problem, but the core group is youth aged 15 to 25.

A study undertaken by the UNODC (United Nations Office for Drugs and Crime) in 2001, based on three samples of the Lebanese population (high school students, university students and other substance using populations), shows that the age of first-time drug users has diminished considerably in the last few years, varying from between 15 to 20 years old, against 25 to 30 at the beginning of the 90’s. It also shows that the frequency of multi-consumption of substances is higher, and that a substantial majority of that population lacks information on the levels of harmfulness of drugs.