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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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British children lead Europe in cannabis use
Tuesday 10 Oct 2000 A new report reveals that cannabis use among schoolchildren in Britain is higher than almost anywhere else in Europe. And a higher proportion of British adults - one in 10 - is now using cannabis than anywhere else in the European Union. The European Union drugs agency in Lisbon says cannabis is the widest available and most commonly used drug across the EU, with substantially increased use in the last decade. It is the most widely used illegal substance among schoolchildren, although the proportion of youngsters who have tried the drug differs widely in the member states. Experience ranges from 7% of the school population in Portugal and Sweden to up to 40% in Holland, Ireland and the UK. Overall use of cannabis in the last decade is highest in Denmark but, with one in 10 adults using the drug in the last 12 months, the UK heads the list as cannabis becomes more and more prevalent. About 7% of Spanish adults tried the drug in the last year, compared with an EU average of 5%. The latest figures show that at least 45 million European citizens - 18% of the age group 15 to 64 - have tried cannabis at least once. Use of the drug is higher among younger age groups, with about 40% of 18-year-olds having tried it. The report also says cocaine use is rising across the EU, and there are now 1.5 million "problem drug users" - mainly heroin addicts - in the 15 member states. Luxembourg has the worst problem, with around seven problem users per thousand in the age range from 15 to 64. Next comes Italy, with about six per thousand, followed by the UK and Spain at around five per thousand. The drugs agency says the problem levels have little direct link with national drug policies. But it highlights the worrying rise in Britain and Spain in the availability of cheap heroin - particularly brown, smokeable heroin in the UK.
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