The consecutive surveys were conducted in 1987, 1990, 1994, 1997, and 2001 for the purpose of measuring the prevalence of the use of a range of licit and illicit drugs among residents of Amsterdam ages 12 and over. In each survey, 3,000 to 4,000 randomly selected respondents answered questions about their use of drugs. The surveys defined drug use by three prevalence indicators: lifetime, last year, and the last 30 days. Since the 1987 survey, the proportion of the Amsterdam population that has ever used cannabis has increased from 23.1 percent to 38.1 percent in 2001. Approximately 5.6 percent smoked cannabis once a month or more in 1987; and in 2001, 7.8 percent reported doing so. The use of cocaine, ecstasy, and amphetamine has also increased. The proportion of the Amsterdam population that had even used cocaine increased from 5.7 percent to 10 percent between 1987 and 2001. The use of amphetamine showed a smaller increase, from 4.5 percent in 1987 to 6.6 percent in 2001. Ecstasy was used by 1.3 percent of the Amsterdam population in 1990 (not measured in 1987), and this increased to 8.7 percent in 2001. The age of first use for all substances addressed in the surveys was lowest for alcohol and tobacco, with both substances first used on average while 18 years old. The average age for first use of cannabis was 20 years old. First use for other drugs was in the early 20's. Survey findings indicate that people stop using illicit substances relatively soon after their first use; whereas, the use of alcohol and tobacco continues over a longer period; however, the careers of cannabis users are slowly becoming longer. 32 tables, 5 figures, and 16 references