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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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UK: Many schoolchildren 'have tried drugs'
Ben Willis The Guardian
Friday 22 Apr 2005 One child in five aged 14 to 15 has tried at least one illegal drug, according to a major survey of pupils' lifestyles. The study of more than 40,000 children aged between 10 and 15, covered issues ranging from drug and alcohol use to children's diet and fears over their weight. Carried out by the Exeter-based Schools Health Education Unit (SHEU), the survey showed that more than a quarter - 27% - of 14 to 15-year-olds and 7% of 12 to 13-year-olds have tried cannabis. Of the 40,439 children questioned as part of the survey, 61% said they were "fairly sure" or "certain" they know a drug user. Researchers said they were "concerned" at the level of alcohol use and smoking revealed by the report. Almost two-thirds - 65% - of children will have smoked by the age of 14. Between 10% and 16% of those aged 10 to 11 had consumed at least one alcoholic drink in the week before the survey, a figure that rose to almost half - 43% - among 14 to 15-year-olds, while 16% of boys aged 14-15 admitted drinking at least 10 units of alcohol over the previous week. Researcher Dr David Regis said: "I am concerned about the alcohol issue. It's not a huge problem for school children, but it's what they're walking into. "We are still not getting that right as a society, and it concerns me the way in which young people are starting to adopt the same patterns of use. They are doing more binge drinking and more unsupervised drinking, and that is a concern." The survey also revealed children's attitudes towards their weight. It emerged that 20% of all males and 16% of all females surveyed were found to be 'overweight'. However, many more girls were unhappy about their size than were actually overweight. Among girls aged 14-15, 59% said they 'would like to lose weight', although only 15% within that age bracket were found to be overweight according to height/weight data. Dr Regis said: "We know that obesity in young people is increasing, however the proportion of young women who want to lose weight is far higher than the proportion that is actually overweight. "For a lot of them, losing weight would be inappropriate. There are some concerns that girls are willing to skip meals to lose weight."
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