TEENAGERS AS YOUNG AS 15 SPEND AVERAGE OF POUNDS 23 A WEEK ON DRUGS

TEENAGERS as young as 15 are spending an average of Pounds 23 a week
on drugs, according to a report on substance and alcohol abuse.

The study, the first of its kind in the country to be researched and
compiled by young people, found that one in every four teenagers
smokes cannabis on a regular basis. Alcohol and tobacco were also
found to be the most common drugs used by teenagers.

The average weekly expenditure by those teenagers who took part in the
survey was pounds 25 on alcohol; pounds 19 on cigarettes and pounds 23
on drugs.

Only a small minority of those questioned expressed concerns about the
impact of drugs on their health.

Difficulties with friends and parents were given as the most common
relationship problems associated with drugs use.

Some 291 teenagers from Cork took part in the survey which was
compiled by the Community Outreach Drugs Awareness Project. A further
80 were involved in group discussions.

"The views of a large number of young people that we spoke to and
surveyed were that there was not an adequate level of facilities for
young people," a spokesperson for CODAP said.

The majority of young people who took part in the study were still
attending school. Among those a large percentage believed that young
people dropped out of school early because of a lack of money.

"All our research indicates that the use of drugs is widespread among
young people - overall, 46% of respondents use cigarettes daily; 51%
drink weekly; 24% smoke cannabis weekly and 13% took solvents and glue
occasionally," CODAP said.

The vast majority of respondents were introduced to drugs by friends
and just over one third said they took drugs on their own for boredom
and stress. The most common places where young people first
experimented were in public greens, street corners and friends' houses.

The report identified the need for additional facilities for young
people and called for the setting up of cafe/centres to allow
teenagers `hang out' in a relaxed atmosphere.

Launching the report at Cork's City Hall, Lord Mayor Damien Wallace
said a strategic approach was needed to tackle the growing drugs
problem in the city.

While local government, gardaED, community and voluntary groups and
schools had a role to play, young people must have the courage to say
no to drugs, he said.

Independent Cork Corporation Cllr Con O'Leary was critical of schools
which declined to take part in the survey. Of the 15 schools contacted
in Cork, only six agreed to participate.

"I believe a lot of principals bury their heads when it comes to
drugs, but this is all part of education."