$650,000 GRANT FOR RESEARCH

A prominent Christchurch researcher has been given $650,000 to study
young people's use of cannabis and alcohol.

Professor David Fergusson, director of the Christchurch Health and
Development Study based at the Christchurch School of Medicine, will
head the two studies, which are being funded through grants from the
Health Research Council.

Previous research has found high alcohol use among young people and
clear links between alcohol abuse and crime.

The new research, which will run for three years, will examine
whether this high level of alcohol use has continued, and investigate
the relationship of alcohol use to domestic violence.

Professor Fergusson and Dr Annette Beautrais, of Canterbury Suicide
Project, have also been given $382,908 from the Health Research
Council for a study into suicidal behaviour in young adults.