SPORTING LIFE TIPPED AHEAD OF DRUGS

A study has found that Dublin tops the European poll, alongside Manchester,
for levels of drug abuse amongst teenagers.

Of the five cities surveyed Newcastle in northern England had the highest
rate of drug use at 29.8pc, closely followed by Dublin at 29.7pc, Bremen
with 22.9pc, Rome 22.9pc and Groningen in Holland, with 19pc.

Almost 4,000 adolescents in Ireland, England, Germany, Italy and Holland
were questioned about their lives and asked if they had taken cannabis,
amphetamines, ecstasy, tranquillizers or LSD.

The key to keeping teenagers drug-free, according to the European
Commission-sponsored study, is encouraging involvement in sport and early
checking of anti-social behaviour.

In areas where there was most risk in Ireland and England, stable family
backgrounds were no longer a safeguard against boys becoming involved in
drugs. Girls in traditional families were more restrained and tended to
limit their contact with older boys who might have influenced them.

Dr Paul McArdle, of Newcastle University's Department of Child Health, led
a 13-strong European Commission-funded team examining international
variations in drug use among youths.

It looked into the effect of the behaviour of individuals, peer and family
influences and geographical factors. A strong correlation was found between
sport and a reduced incidence of involvement with drugs. Delinquent
behaviour was closely linked with a greater risk of drug use.

The report concluded that drug-taking was not regarded as normal behaviour
despite its prevalence.

"While significant numbers of young people use drugs in the absence of
major risk factors, drug use should not be regarded as an inevitable or
likely phase of mid-adolescent development," the report said.