News (Media Awareness Project) - Ireland: Teen Use Of Cannabis Second Highest In EU |
| Title: | Ireland: Teen Use Of Cannabis Second Highest In EU |
| Published On: | 2000-03-01 |
| Source: | Examiner, The (Ireland) |
| Fetched On: | 2008-09-05 01:46:32 |
SURVEY SHOWS IRISH TEEN USE OF CANNABIS IS SECOND HIGHEST IN EU
ABOUT 20 people die each day in Europe due to drug abuse and the highest
fatality rate is in Ireland and Greece, a major EU wide survey has found.
More than 35% of Irish schoolchildren between the ages of 15 and 16 use
cannabis, the second highest figure among the EU states.
England and Wales top the league in the use of ecstasy, amphetamines and
LSD, followed by the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
Almost five million teenagers in the EU have used heroin at least once,
according to the 1999 report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs
and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
The annual report estimates that one in five 15 year olds across the EU has
tried cannabis. This increases to a quarter for those in their 20s. In
Ireland, England, Wales, Denmark and Spain, up to 40% of those aged between
16 and 34 years admit to having used cannabis.
One in five teenagers in England and Wales is thought to have sniffed
solvents, which have moved to second place in the table of most abused
substances.
Drug abuse is spreading and is at present highest in Britain, Italy and
Luxembourg.
In Europe about 20 people a day die from drug abuse. The highest rate of
fatalities is in Ireland and Greece while France and Belgium have the
lowest, the EMCDDA stated.
Almost half of the entire heroin seized in the EU in 1997 was in Britain
which has consistently had the most drugs seizures every year since 1995.
Drug related HIV infection rates among drug users were highest in Spain.
The Agency estimated 40 million people out of an EU population of 375
million had tried cannabis.
As many as five million people have tried heroin and the problem is
spreading beyond big cities to towns and rural areas, EMCDDA added.
It has been estimated that up to 5% of young European adults have tried
cocaine, the highest rates being in France and Spain.
Drug offenders now make up half the prison population. In some countries up
to 90% of prisoners are reported to use drugs.
The survey found that fewer drugs users were contracting AIDS, but
hepatitis B and C infections were now common.
ABOUT 20 people die each day in Europe due to drug abuse and the highest
fatality rate is in Ireland and Greece, a major EU wide survey has found.
More than 35% of Irish schoolchildren between the ages of 15 and 16 use
cannabis, the second highest figure among the EU states.
England and Wales top the league in the use of ecstasy, amphetamines and
LSD, followed by the Republic of Ireland and the Netherlands.
Almost five million teenagers in the EU have used heroin at least once,
according to the 1999 report of the European Monitoring Centre for Drugs
and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA).
The annual report estimates that one in five 15 year olds across the EU has
tried cannabis. This increases to a quarter for those in their 20s. In
Ireland, England, Wales, Denmark and Spain, up to 40% of those aged between
16 and 34 years admit to having used cannabis.
One in five teenagers in England and Wales is thought to have sniffed
solvents, which have moved to second place in the table of most abused
substances.
Drug abuse is spreading and is at present highest in Britain, Italy and
Luxembourg.
In Europe about 20 people a day die from drug abuse. The highest rate of
fatalities is in Ireland and Greece while France and Belgium have the
lowest, the EMCDDA stated.
Almost half of the entire heroin seized in the EU in 1997 was in Britain
which has consistently had the most drugs seizures every year since 1995.
Drug related HIV infection rates among drug users were highest in Spain.
The Agency estimated 40 million people out of an EU population of 375
million had tried cannabis.
As many as five million people have tried heroin and the problem is
spreading beyond big cities to towns and rural areas, EMCDDA added.
It has been estimated that up to 5% of young European adults have tried
cocaine, the highest rates being in France and Spain.
Drug offenders now make up half the prison population. In some countries up
to 90% of prisoners are reported to use drugs.
The survey found that fewer drugs users were contracting AIDS, but
hepatitis B and C infections were now common.
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