Drug misuse among teenagers has decreased
A recent report published by
Exeter University has suggested
that drug use in teenagers has
started to decline for the first
time in 12 years. The report's
figures were collected using a
questionnaire sent out to
40 299 pupils, aged 9 to 15
years, across England. This
questionnaire is part of a continuing study into the health of
primary and secondary school
children in the United Kingdom, which has been running
since 1980 but until 1987 featured no questions on knowledge, attitude, or behaviour
with regard to drug use.
The health questionnaire is
administered to pupils by
teachers during classroom
time, which means that the
response rate is 100%. Over
half a million pupils have completed the questionnaire since
the study began. This year's
report states that the percentage of young people that have
tried an illegal drug peaked in
1995-6 and has stabilised, or
possibly even come down,
since then. Thirty nine per
cent of 14-15 year olds questioned claimed that they knew
where to obtain an illegal
drug, with 58% of the same
sample stating they were fairly
sure or certain that they knew
a drug dealer. Forty four per
cent of the sample have been
offered an illegal drug at some
point in their lives, and 21%
have tried an illegal drug.
Twelve per cent of 14-15 year
old boys and 7% of girls
claimed that if cannabis was
made legal, they would use it
more often.
John Balding, the director
of the Schools Health Education Unit, which coordinates
the collection of data, said that
the figures were extremely
good news. Referring to high
profile, drug related deaths,
such as that of Leah Betts, the
18 year old who died after taking ecstasy a few years ago, Mr
Balding added: "It is trendy
not to take drugs. Fashions
change quite quickly. You get
one reported incident... and it
has an effect."
Siān Knight, Nottingham
studentBMJ 2000;08:89-130 April ISSN 0966-6494
