ONE-IN-THREE CHILDREN IN SURVEY HAD TAKEN DRUGS

ONE in three school-going children admitted using drugs in an ISPCC survey
published yesterday.

The society's chief executive, Cian O'Tighearnaigh described the level of
drug abuse among the children as alarming. The survey was based on a
questionnaire completed by 590 children between the ages of 11 and 18 years
in a cross-section of schools in the Drogheda area.

Mr O'Tighearnaigh said the proportion of children who admitted taking
drugs, at 29%, was about 50% greater than similar surveys carried out in
other areas of the country.

He was especially worried about how easily children could get
non-prescribed drugs - 85% of the children surveyed said they got their
drugs locally.

The problem of underage drinking was also found to be very serious. Half of
the students, who answered the questionnaire during school time over the
last two months, said they drank regularly.

Of the 50% who admitted drinking regularly, 58% said they drank every week
while four per cent drank every day. The four per cent who admitted
drinking every day said they did so to forget their problems.

Mr O'Tighearnaigh said he was also concerned that 35% of the schoolchildren
said they got drink in pubs while 19% got drink in off-licences. He pointed
to research which showed that children who drink at an early age tended to
drink through difficulties rather than seeking help and advise from a
relation or friend.

Almost 60% said they had smoked cigarettes. The age at which the children
started smoking ranged between five and 17 years. Most (71%) found their
first cigarette to be unpleasant but 54% claimed they were still smoking.

The children also identified drink, drugs and smoking as the biggest
problem in their lives.

Mothers came first as the person who most would go to in times of trouble
at 39%. Only 4% said they would confide in their fathers.

Under half of those surveyed felt they had a very good relationship with
their parents. Just over a third felt they had a good relationship while
18% described their relationship with their parents as average.

Only five per cent felt they had a bad relationship while two per cent felt
their relationship was very bad.

Checked-by: Mike Gogulski