DUBLIN TEENAGERS TOP THE DELINQUENT TABLE

Dublin teenagers take more drugs and alcohol and are more delinquent
than their peers, a study of five European cities has found. The
study's authors recommend the introduction of a national identity card
scheme and the enforcement of tobacco sales laws.

A survey of substance use among second-year post-primary pupils in
Dublin, Newcastle, Rome, Bremen, in Germany, and Groningen, in the
Netherlands, showed that the Irish capital fared worst in almost every
category.

Just under a third of Dublin teenagers admitted to using at least one
illicit substance; cannabis being by far the most popular choice, with
28% using it in the last year. This compared with Newcastle on 27%,
Bremen 21%, Groningen 15% and Rome 11%.

The use of inhalants, such as glue and deodorants, was particularly
high in Dublin compared with the other cities, with 14% of students
using them. Another 5% had used other illicit drugs such as magic
mushrooms, LSD, ecstasy, tranquillisers and amphetamines, in that
order of popularity. Dublin also had the highest availability of
illegal substances. Six out of 10 teenagers said they had been offered
them, followed by 44% in Newcastle.

Funded by the Eastern Health Board in conjunction with the European
Commission, 983 students from 16 schools took part in the survey. Just
over half were 15 years old, while 38% were 14. The schools included a
vocational school in a disadvantaged area, a private school and a
special school for travellers.

Dr Paul McArdle, the survey co-ordinator and a consultant child
psychiatrist based in Newcastle, said the authors found that in
low-use cities such as Groningen, Bremen and Rome, hanging around with
friends was an important factor among those who used drugs.

"Their behaviour acted as a portal for drug use for others but not in
Dublin and Newcastle, where drug availability is high," he said. "You
didn't need to hang around with your mates to get drugs because
they're available everywhere - there's a stash at every corner."

Dublin youth also reported the lowest age of first use of cannabis and
inhalants - the average age for both was about 12 years.

The highest rates of delinquent behaviour such as graffiti-writing,
vandalism and persistent criminality occurred in Dublin. Rates of
fighting and causing a public nuisance were twice as high as in the
other cities. Just over a third of the sample admitted to shoplifting
while almost a quarter had been caught or arrested.

When it came to alcohol, Dublin again fared the worst, with 59%
admitting to occasional drinking and 16% saying they drank regularly.
With regular drinking, Newcastle was next on 15%, Groningen 9% and
Rome and Bremen 2%.

The city was joint top with Bremen in rates of smoking - 16% said they
smoked daily, compared with 13% in Newcastle and Rome, and 11% in Groningen.

The study concluded that "legal and illegal substances are readily
available to young people and that current efforts to curb
availability are having only minimal effect.

"The results are particularly striking given the age of the pupils
surveyed. Only small differences were found between the results of the
present study and prevalence rates reported in a recent survey of
fifth-year pupils."

"An innovative approach to tackling the issue of availability of
illicit substances is needed," the report added.

McArdle linked the city's delinquency problems to its rapid
urbanisation and consequent fragmentation of communities.

"You've had huge expansion and that is linked with poor community
formation," he said.