CANNABIS 'WIDELY USED IN SCHOOLS' WARNS HEALTH BOARD

Cannabis is the most frequently abused drug in secondary schools in
north Dublin, according to an Eastern Health Board report.

The study, carried out in 1996, looked at 19 schools and surveyed
pupils aged 15 to 17.

It revealed that 68pc of boys and 56pc of girls had used drugs and
approximately one in ten were abusing by their 13th birthday.

There were higher rates for use among boys initially with 80pc of both
sexes having begun by the age of 15 years.

"While drug use was initially higher in mixed rather than single
gender schools, similar levels of drug use were found in both
categories of schools by the time the pupils reached 15 years of age",
said the report.

Of the total students using drugs, 40pc first started using them in
the months of June and July. Customary users, those who took drugs
when they felt like it, tended to start abusing at a younger age and
accounted for 60pc of the lifetime prevalence and experimental users
40pc.

For this latter group the most popular drug was ecstasy, followed by
LSD and amphetamines while for experimental users LSD was the most
widely used with ecstasy and amphetamines the second and third
preferences.

Of those surveyed 70pc had smoked and 92pc drank alcohol. The study
suggested targeted programmes are needed in primary and secondary
school and as cannabis is widely used, special attention should be
given to its potential hazards, including psychological effects.

The post Easter term should be pinpointed to prepare young people for
the summer months during which drug taking is more likely to begin,
said the report. It also calls for confidential school based studies
to be carried out to monitor trends.

Checked-by: Patrick Henry