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UK: Drugs used with parents

Sky News

Sunday 23 Feb 2003

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Nearly a quarter of young drug-users have smoked cannabis with their
parents, according to a survey.

According to the poll, 23% of the 493 people questioned had shared a
joint with their mother or father.

A smaller number - just under 5% - had even shared harder drugs with a
parent.

The survey, carried out by rave culture magazine Mixmag, also showed
that the tranquilliser ketamine has surged in popularity among clubbers,
leaping from 10th most popular drug four years ago to fifth place in
2002.

'Attitudes change'

"Almost a quarter of this year's survey said they smoked spliffs with
their parents, and a smaller number said they'd done harder drugs with a
parent," said Mixmag's Paul French.

"As drugs education gradually gets better and people learn more about
what drugs really do rather than believing tabloid scare stories,
attitudes change.

"It's not uncommon for parents now to prefer their kids to have a
spliff, rather than be in the pub drinking and possibly getting into
fights.

"They know that weed is a far less anti-social drug than alcohol, so
they don't mind their kids doing it."

He went on: "As far as harder drugs go, I think it's a case of safety.

Risk

"If you take drugs, you might be of the opinion that it's better for you
to teach your kids about drugs and even take drugs with them, to stop
them being influenced by what you see as less-responsible drug-takers."

A massive 83% of the readers who responded had dealt ecstasy to friends,
selling to an average of 10 people.

If the survey is accurate, it means the majority of young clubbers are
risking life sentences for dealing Class A drugs.

Ecstasy has fallen in price from £9 a pill in 2000 to just £3.35 a pill
last year, the survey found. The average ecstasy user spent £595 on the
habit last year, while the average cocaine user spent £1,080.

The average age of those who responded to the survey was 24.

Fifty-two per cent were male and average earnings were less than £15,000
a year.


 

 

 

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