CHILDREN UNDER 13 USING DRUGS

NEARLY a fifth of children under 13 in a Wicklow town have used drugs,
according to an ISPCC report published yesterday.

The report, which surveyed 600 children in Arklow, revealed that 18pc of the
under-13s had used drugs.

Almost 40pc of children surveyed admitted drinking alcohol and over a third
of these confessed to drinking cider every week.

The survey was carried out ahead of the opening yesterday by junior
Environment Minister Joe Jacob of a new youth advice and counselling service
in the town.

The most commonly used drugs were cannabis, speed, Ecstasy and solvents and
93pc of respondents said they were available locally, mostly from friends or
drug dealers. More than 50pc said they had tried smoking and most had their
first cigarette between the ages of nine and 12.

Checked-by: Rolf Ernst