STUDY REVEALS HIGH RATE OF DRUG USE BY SCHOOL PUPILS

Almost one in two 16-year-old schoolchildren in central Scotland have tried
illegal drugs, a survey revealed yesterday.

The report, carried out by Forth Valley Health Board, showed that 42 per
cent of fourth-year pupils in its area admitted taking drugs while 49 per
cent had drunk alcohol in the last seven days.

More alarming, the fugures also revealed more than one in seven youngsters
aged 11 had recently drunk alcohol.

Overall, the survey of more than 2,600 pupils aged between 11 and sixteen in
Falkirk, Stirling and Clackmannanshire highlighted a trend of increased
smoking, and alcohol and drug misuse, within schools. Health promotion
groups said the figures showed a worrying trend among pupils.

The Young Persons Lifestyle Survey was compiled by health board using
secondary pupils in first to fourth years. The children were questioned
about smoking, alcohol and illegal drugs as well as relationships, exercise
routines and diets.

The findings of the survey were presented to the health board at a meeting
chaired last week by Dr Rani Balendra, the consultant in public health
medicine.

The figures showed that 26 per cent of fourth-year pupils, aged 15 or 16,
had smoked in the last seven days, while 3 per cent of first-year pupils
also smoked. One in two 16-year-olds and 15 per cent of 11-year-olds
admitted consuming alcohol within the last week.

The situation was worse among first year pupils in Clackmannanshire, where
20 per cent of 11-year-olds revealed they were drinkers.

About 40 per cent of fourth-year pupils in the Forth Valley area said they
had taken drugs, and 3 per cent of first years also admitted misuse.

Other statistics showed that one in four pupils had a boyfriend or
girlfriend, and about 20 per cent of children were afraid of being bullied.

Health officials hope to use the statistics to provide feedback and
information to individual schools on the behaviour of their pupils.

Health board officials said yesterday the figures would help them formulate
future health strategies. A spokesperson said: "Risk-taking behaviour among
young people continues to increase in Forth Valley according to the latest
survey.

"The findings raise questions about the most appropriate age group for
targeting and sustaining health education messages and they will form an
important part of future health board strategies.

"They will be used in drawing up future strategies for young people."

David Liddell, director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, blamed the rave culture
for the number of school children who were taking drugs.

He said: "It is quite concerning to see the number of youngsters taking
drugs. It reflects a general increasing trend in the last few years.

"There are many different reasons for these statistics. In recent years we
have had a rise in the whole dance culture which has tempted young people
into drugs.

"It would be even more worrying if it turned out that the youngsters taking
drugs were actually addicts or frequent users."

Checked-by: "Rolf Ernst"