Subj: Drugs begin in primary schools

Date: May 14, 1998

Source: Irish Independent

Drugs begin in primary schools

By JOHN WALSHE, Education Editor

CURIOSITY is the main reason why four out of five
students have tried drugs, according to a student union
survey.

It shows that half of those who have tried drugs are
continuing to take them.

Five per cent of the 1,000-plus students surveyed said
they had first taken an illegal drug while in primary
school and 72pc in second level school. The rest of
those who had taken an illegal drug first did so in
college.

The most popular starter drug was cannabis which
was taken by almost half of those who had tried
drugs, followed by ecstasy which was taken by 10pc
while 9pc said speed was their initial drug.

Just over half 53pc of respondents indicated that
drugs were a part of their social life while 47pc of
students surveyed said drugs were not.

USI president Colman Byrne said there was a
"gaping hole" between the level of information on
drugs provided by the Government and the level of
information required by students and young people.

"The results of this survey indicated that our fears are
well-founded as 33pc of respondents said they had no
information prior to taking their first drug," he said.

And 59pc said they did not know the long term effects
of the drugs they took for the first time.

Mr Byrne said that the results clearly indicated that
students were not adequately educated on the effects
and dangers of drug use. "Once again, USI has had
to assume the role of educators due to the failure of
successive governments," he said.

He said the results equipped USI with the information
to tackle the problem of drug use and abuse. He
called on the Government to:

* provide adequate information on the use and abuse
of drugs

* work in partnership with USI to combat the
problem

* use USI's resources as the representative body for
students

* provide adequate funding for a comprehensive peer
education programme on the effects of drug use.

"In thirty years, the methods of student unions may
have changed. However, our motivation is still the
well-being of students and our enemy is the inaction of
those in power," he said.

Over a third of those who tried drugs now take a
larger quantity on a regular basis. Some spent
£10-£15 a week on cannabis.

The survey also revealed that 15pc of students took
no precautions when using drugs.