MORE THAN HALF TRY DRUGS BY 15

More than a quarter of schoolchildren aged 13 have tried drugs and by the
age of 15 the figure has risen to more than half, according to a survey
published yesterday.

Two per cent of 13 to 14-year-olds in Northumbria and 3 per cent of 15 to
16-year-olds in West Yorkshire had tried heroin, indicating that drug use is
starting at a much earlier age.

Forty per cent of children had been in situations where drugs were available
by the age of 13 and the figure rose to 60 per cent by the age of 14 and 80
per cent at 16.

By the age of 16, 14 per cent had been in a situation where heroin was
available, according to the findings of a three-year project among 2,500
schoolchildren aged 13-16 in 13 secondary and middle schools in two towns
per county.

Almost one quarter of the 13 to 14-year-olds, with pounds 10 pocket money
per week, smokedan average of 21 cigarettes weekly, rising to 32 when they
reached 14.

It found also most 16-year-olds, who had pounds 20 pocket money, drank
alcohol weekly and most children aged 13-14 had tried alcohol.

Officials gave warning that the figures must be treated with caution as the
study had not been carried out on a nationwide basis. A full-scale national
survey of schools, aimed at finding the full extent of drug-taking, is to be
conducted later this year.