DRUGS 'TRIED BY A QUARTER OF 13-YEAR-OLDS'

One in four 13-year-olds at schools taking part in a government-backed
drugs survey had taken illegal substances, mostly cannabis, according
to researchers. By the age of 15, more than half had tried at least
one drug.

The three-year study has so alarmed ministers that a survey of schools
throughout England is to be conducted to see if the figures are the
same elsewhere. It coincided with research showing that cocaine is
replacing ecstasy as the fashionable drug among young people. Figures
published yesterday showed a significant increase in the drug's use in
the 16 to 29 age group.

The school project covered 2,500 children aged 13 to 16 in a dozen
secondary and middle schools in four towns in Northumbria and West
Yorkshire. On average, the younger children were given pounds 13 a
week pocket money and the older childen ponds 20, supplemented by
earnings from part-time jobs.

The survey showed that by the age of 13, 26 per cent of the children
had tried at least one drug, rising to 51 per cent at 15 and 56 per
cent at 16. Although cannabis and amphetamines were easily the most
common drugs, there were also higher-than-expected rates of heroin
use.

More children were being exposed to drugs at a much earlier age than
before. By 13, 40 per cent had been in situations where drugs were
offered or available. These included solvents, "magic mushrooms", LSD
and nitrites as well as cannabis.

By the age of 16, 14 per cent of young people had been in situations
where heroin was available or offered. In one area of Northumbria, 33
per cent of 13-year-olds had tried drugs. The research also found that
children in one-parent households were more likely to use drugs.

Officials said it was impossible to say whether the findings were
nationally representative before the national survey later this year.
Paul Wiles, director of the Home Office Research Development and
Statistics Directorate, said: "This should help to put the findings
from Northumbria and West Yorkshire in better perspective. We know
that drug use in the North of England could be especially high."

The authors of the study say drug taking is no longer a minority
pastime but involves millions of "ordinary" young people who are not
from underprivileged backgrounds. The marked fall in the age at which
drugs were being tried suggested regular drug use was likely in later
life.

Mike O'Brien, Home Office minister, said the figures showed the
importance of informing young people about the dangers of drugs. But
Andrew Lansley, Conservative spokesman, accused the Government of
"complacency" and said there was no evidence of progress in cutting
drug misuse by young people.

A separate study based on the findings of the 1998 British Crime
Survey showed that increasing numbers of young people were trying
cocaine. Experts said that falling prices and cocaine's association
with the wealthy and famous were helping fuel the boom. Fears over the
safety of the "dance drug" ecstasy may also be responsible for the
rise.

However, the increase appears to be largely confined to London and
Merseyside. A feared heroin epidemic among the young had not
materialised.