BRIT PUPILS HEAD CANNABIS TABLE

CANNABIS use among British schoolchildren is higher than almost anywhere
else in Europe, a shock report shows.

And more adults - one in 10 - are taking the drug in the UK than anywhere
else in the EU.

Forty per cent of British pupils have tried cannabis, says the survey by the
European Union drugs agency.

Only Holland and Ireland show similar levels. In Portugal and Sweden the
figure is only seven per cent.

In adults, use of the drug here is up to DOUBLE the EU average. Forty five
million Europeans aged 15-64 have tried cannabis at least once.

Amphetamines and Ecstasy are the second most commonly used drugs in Europe,
although cocaine use is also rising across the 15 member states.

And the report highlights a worrying rise in Britain and Spain in the
availability of cheap heroin.

Drug users are drifting away from large dance events to clubs, bars and
private settings, the survey reveals.

But concern is growing about weekend 'raves' where users sometimes take
combinations of drugs.

Some 1.5 million 'problem drug users' - mainly heroin addicts - now live in
the EU. Luxembourg has the highest number, with around seven per thousand
of the population.

Italy is next with six per thousand followed by the UK with about five.