MOST GIRLS TRYING DRINK AND DRUGS

FOUR In every five girls under the age of 14 have tried alcohol, a magazine
poll suggests.

But an emerging threat from hard drugs such as heroin, Ecstasy and marijuana
has been highlighted as an area of concern for parents.

A poll by Girlfriend magazine readers has found 7 per cent of teenage girls
have tried heroin, 9 per cent Ecstasy and 63 per cent marijuana.

The survey polled more than 660 teenage girls, asking a variety of questions
about their drug habits.

According to the survey, 86 per cent of respondents have tried drugs - 77
per cent of those were under 16.

Almost a fifth of girls who tried drugs other than alcohol were under 12 at
the time.

Most of the girls obtained their drugs from a friend or an acquaintance who
was a drug dealer.

A third took drugs because they enjoyed it. Half of all the respondents who
did not take drugs themselves said they had friends who did.

Girlfriend deputy editor Ms Donna Walker said the magazine was amazed at the
extent of drug use.

"We just didn't expect so many girls to be taking part," she said.

Ms Walker said the girls who took part in the poll responded in writing and
the results might not be completely indicative of the situation.

"It was still quite disturbing though," she said.

Ms Walker said it was the first drugs survey conducted by the magazine, but
foreshadowed more in future.

The magazine wanted to keep track of the problem, she said.

"The message just isn't getting across to young girls just how dangerous
(drugs) are," she said.

Checked-by: Don Beck