CLEAR SIGNS THAT FEWER CHILDREN ARE TAKING DRUGS

THE first clear evidence that the number of children taking illegal drugs
is falling was published yesterday.

A survey of 40,000 pupils by the Schools Health Education Unit found that
21 per cent of those aged 14 and 15 admitted trying a drug last year, down
from a peak of 33 per cent in 1996. The proportion, which had increased
steadily since 1987, also declined in 1997 and 1998. A total of 44 per cent
of pupils aged 14 and 15 said they had been offered an illegal drug, and 39
per cent knew where to obtain drugs.

That half apparently said no suggests drug education programmes and greater
awareness among parents are beginning to have an impact.

The pupils said their strongest reason for accepting a drug was curiosity
and their strongest reason for refusing it was fear of getting into trouble
at home. When children aged nine to 11 were asked who, if anyone, they
would like to talk to them about illegal drugs, more than 60 per cent said
their parents and more than 30 per cent their teachers.

Asked how safe or unsafe they thought illegal drugs were, 78 per cent of
teenagers said ecstasy was always unsafe, a proportion that fell to 70 per
cent for cocaine, 68 per cent for solvents and 35 per cent for cannabis.
About eight per cent of the 14- to 15-year-olds had used cannabis
"regularly" at some point in their lives. Only three per cent of the
non-users would start using it if it was made legal.

John Balding, director of the unit, said: "In 1987 we were hesitant about
even asking drug-related questions for fear of what messages they would be
giving young people about the 'normality' of drug use. The reported
experimentation with drugs has grown remarkably and is now many times the
level we were recording in 1987.

"We cannot predict what will happen over the next few years; this could be
a pause before the rise continues."

Paul Betts, the father of Leah Betts, who died five years ago after taking
an ecstasy tablet on her 18th birthday, described the report as
encouraging. He added: "Leah's death acted as a catalyst for teaching about
drug misuse and these figures show the education is working. What is
important is to give young people the facts and let them make up their own
minds."