News (Media Awareness Project) - UK: Drugs in Britain, Part 1: UK Teenagers Hit Drugs And |
| Title: | UK: Drugs in Britain, Part 1: UK Teenagers Hit Drugs And |
| Published On: | 2001-02-20 |
| Source: | Guardian, The (UK) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-01-26 23:45:43 |
UK TEENAGERS HIT DRUGS AND ALCOHOL HARDER
British teenagers are more likely to have taken drugs, drunk alcohol or
smoked than most of their European counterparts, says a survey released today.
The findings, from the European school survey project on alcohol and other
drugs, found that nearly 30% of the sample of 15- and 16-year-olds said
they had been drunk at least 20 times in their life - a quarter said they
had been intoxicated three or more times in the past month.
There has been a slight decline in illicit drug use since the last survey
of this kind in 1995, but UK teenagers are still more likely than most
Europeans to have taken a variety of illicit substances.
More than 35% of 15- to 16-year-olds said they had tried cannabis, which
was the most popular drug by far.
Other abused substances include aerosols, glue or other "volatile
substances" (15%), amphetamines (8%) and ecstasy (3.3%). Harder drugs such
as crack cocaine and heroin were less common.
More girls than boys admitted smoking, and in total, 34% of children said
they had smoked during the past month.
The report's author Dr Martin Plant, said: "I would like to see a sensible
approach to this because it is the legal drugs such as cigarettes and
alcohol which lead to the most deaths and illnesses with young people in
this country.
"If the government wants to crack down on drugs dealers it should be
looking at the shop keepers who are selling the drink and cigarettes to the
children."
The survey questioned 15 and 16-year-olds from schools in 30 European
countries. In Britain 223 schools participated out of a random sample of 302.
Other countries where a high number of teenagers admitted taking drugs were
the Republic of Ireland, France and the Czech Republic. Countries with low
levels of drug use included Finland, Sweden, Malta and Cyprus.
The report come just a day after a World Health Organisation (WHO) report
said that 33,000 people a year in England and Wales alone are dying from
drink-induced causes.
And in a European conference on young people and alcohol, WHO director
general Gro Harlem Brundtland yesterday attacked alcohol companies for
aggressively marketing products such as alcopops to young people with
advertising that focuses on youth lifestyle, sex, sports and fun.
British teenagers are more likely to have taken drugs, drunk alcohol or
smoked than most of their European counterparts, says a survey released today.
The findings, from the European school survey project on alcohol and other
drugs, found that nearly 30% of the sample of 15- and 16-year-olds said
they had been drunk at least 20 times in their life - a quarter said they
had been intoxicated three or more times in the past month.
There has been a slight decline in illicit drug use since the last survey
of this kind in 1995, but UK teenagers are still more likely than most
Europeans to have taken a variety of illicit substances.
More than 35% of 15- to 16-year-olds said they had tried cannabis, which
was the most popular drug by far.
Other abused substances include aerosols, glue or other "volatile
substances" (15%), amphetamines (8%) and ecstasy (3.3%). Harder drugs such
as crack cocaine and heroin were less common.
More girls than boys admitted smoking, and in total, 34% of children said
they had smoked during the past month.
The report's author Dr Martin Plant, said: "I would like to see a sensible
approach to this because it is the legal drugs such as cigarettes and
alcohol which lead to the most deaths and illnesses with young people in
this country.
"If the government wants to crack down on drugs dealers it should be
looking at the shop keepers who are selling the drink and cigarettes to the
children."
The survey questioned 15 and 16-year-olds from schools in 30 European
countries. In Britain 223 schools participated out of a random sample of 302.
Other countries where a high number of teenagers admitted taking drugs were
the Republic of Ireland, France and the Czech Republic. Countries with low
levels of drug use included Finland, Sweden, Malta and Cyprus.
The report come just a day after a World Health Organisation (WHO) report
said that 33,000 people a year in England and Wales alone are dying from
drink-induced causes.
And in a European conference on young people and alcohol, WHO director
general Gro Harlem Brundtland yesterday attacked alcohol companies for
aggressively marketing products such as alcopops to young people with
advertising that focuses on youth lifestyle, sex, sports and fun.
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