Increase in number of young people on cannabis

by Gráinne Cunningham

THE high percentage of teenagers using drugs, revealed in an EU report,
confirms what those working in drugs prevention already knew.

The news that 40% of 15 to 16yearolds have tried cannabis is consistent
with its increasing availability here, according to psychologist Tony
O'Gorman.

Mr O'Gorman chairs the Government steering committee for the Substance
Abuse Prevention programme in postprimary schools.

"Cannabis seems to be increasingly available here, despite efforts of the
gardaí and customs officers, and there is an increase in the number of
young people experimenting with it," he said.

However, Mr O'Gorman said he had not seen the report by the EU drugs
monitoring agency, and stressed that the age ranges would have to be
examined before comparisons with other European countries could be
accurately assessed. "If low age levels are included in some countries, you
will get diminished reporting of drug abuse," he said. The fact that
Ireland has twice the national average number of under25s in drug
treatment centres "probably reflects the rise in the availability of
treatment centres in the very recent past," Mr O'Gorman said.

Despite the figures revealed in the EU report, Mr O'Gorman said the
Substance Abuse Prevention programme in secondary schools had received a
very favourable outcome in an independent assessment.

The SAP programme, which began in 1994 at secondary level, is now to be
expanded to primary schools. "The programme will not have an immediate
effect. It will take time," he said.

The ASTI described the results of the EU report as "surprising and worrying."

ASTI deputy general secretary John White suggested that the high abuse
rates "may be linked to our traditional reputation for taking a drug called
alcohol."

His organisation received "occasional reports" of pupils in schools in
trouble with management over drugs, he said.

Mr White said over 1,000 teachers had received drugstraining through the
SAP scheme and that almost every school had a drugs prevention programme of
some kind.

A Department of Health spokesperson said the Drugs Task Force included
provision for particular attention to be paid to the needs of young
misusers in the priority areas and for the development of sports and
recreation activities in those areas. A mass media campaign by the Health
Promotion Unit, launched in June 1996, targeted 15 to 25yearolds who were
experimenting with drugs and parents of young people, the spokesperson said.