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Cannabis Campaigners' Guide News Database result:
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Drink is worse than cannabis, say young
The Scotsman Tuesday 12 Aug 1997 Most young Scots say it is more acceptable to take drugs than to get drunk and a majority of girls north of the Border have lost their virginity by their 16th birthday, a survey says. The research found that of those who did so, the average age for smoking their first cigarette was 13; getting drunk and sniffing glue, 14; smoking cannabis, 15; selling drugs, 17. The survey was carried out for Stirling Council by police and youth researchers to provide up-to-date information on the lifestyles of 16 to 25-year-olds. Commenting on drug abuse the survey said: "Not all young people take drugs or take them a lot, but a lot of young people do take them and think it's OK to do so." Many of the young people believed that cannabis should be legalised, as they saw it as less of a problem then drink. "Information given about drugs is preaching and negative and it turns the readers off" the survey reported.. Almost all the young people interviewed (95 per cent) said they had got drunk at least once. Just over three quarters had smoked cigarettes (76 per cent). Almost six in ten had smoked cannabis (58 per cent) anf four in ten had taken other illegal drugs. More than one in eight of the young people had sold drugs (13 per cent) and 11 per cent had sniffed glue or aerosols at least once. The survey quotes youngster's views on alcohol: "Drinking is seen as less socially acceptable among young people than taking drugs. "There are more attitude and behavioural problems with drink than with drugs." Nearly half of those surveyed smoked often (45 per cent) and a further 17 per cent were occasional smokers, but more than a fifth had never smoked. Of the 293 people who took part in the survey 122 (42 per cent) were male and 171 (58 per cent) were female. They were interviewed and took part in group discussions and focus groups.
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