'PRESSURED' TEENS FAKE DRUG USE

One fifth of young people say their friends pretend to take drugs to look
cool, according to a survey.

Their friends were pressured into faking drug-taking in order to fit in
with their peers, they said.

Teenagers in the south east of England were the most likely to exaggerate
their drugs experience, a report by helpline Frank said.

And boys were twice as likely as girls to pretend they had taken drugs, the
report found.

'Positive' Results

Frank spokesman Darren Hall said report could be seen in a more positive light.

"It is encouraging that while young people may talk about drug-taking, they
aren't necessarily experimenting with drugs themselves," he said.

"However, it's important to get the facts about drugs rather than relying
on hearsay or urban myths.

"Drugs can be dangerous and taking them is not a fashion statement."

More than 1,000 11 to 18-year-olds in the UK were questioned for the report.