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Has drug taking among British teenagers continued to rise

01:00 Tue 20th Feb 2001 | News

No, the number of British teenagers experimenting with legal and illegal drugs has actually fallen slightly since 1995, according to a survey by the World Health Organisation. The survey found that 36% of British teenagers had tried addicted substances in 1999 - in the form of illegal drugs, alcohol or cigarettes - compared with 42% in 1995. British teenagers, however, are more likely to experiment with addictive substances than their mainland European counterparts and are more likely to get drunk regularly and smoke on a daily basis.

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What 'drugs' are our teenagers using

The most popular illicit drug is cannabis, just over 35% of the 15 and 16-year-olds questioned had tried it. Of those surveyed, 65% had smoked conventional cigarettes and 75% said that they had been drunk before. 15% had abused substances such as glue, 8% had taken amphetamines and 3.3% ecstasy. Hard drugs, such as heroin and cocaine, were much less likely to get a mention.

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What can be done to stem the use of 'drugs' by teenagers

The charity Alcohol Concern wants to see a tightening up of under-age drinking laws and has called for drinks companies to stop targeting drinks, such as alcopops at teenagers. These drinks are so sweet that teenagers don’t always realise how much alcohol they have actually consumed. World Health Organisation director general Gro Harlem Brundtland has also condemned alcohol manufacturers for marketing their products to young people. Smoking, drugs and alcohol use, however, is becoming more and more socially acceptable and it is this culture that the reports author wants to be addressed.

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