Date: Monday, 7 September 1998
Source: The Irish Independent
Contact: independent.letters@independent.ie
The story seems to contradict itself, first saying cannabis is the most widely used, and then not mentioning it amongst the top three drugs. We'll try and get hold of the original report.
Cannabis 'widely used in schools' warns health board
Cannabis is the most frequently abused drug in secondary schools in north Dublin, according to an Eastern Health Board report.
The study, carried out in 1996, looked at 19 schools and surveyed
pupils aged 15 to 17.
It revealed that 68pc of boys and 56pc of girls had used drugs and approximately one in ten were abusing by their 13th birthday.
There were higher rates for use among boys initially with 80pc of both sexes having begun by the age of 15 years.
"While drug use was initially higher in mixed rather than single gender schools, similar levels of drug use were found in both categories of schools by the time the pupils reached 15 years of age", said the report.
Of the total students using drugs, 40pc first started using them in the months of June and July. Customary users, those who took drugs when they felt like it, tended to start abusing at a younger age and accounted for 60pc of the lifetime prevalence and experimental users 40pc.
For this latter group the most popular drug was ecstasy, followed by LSD and amphetamines while for experimental users LSD was the most widely used with ecstasy and amphetamines the second and third preferences.
Of those surveyed 70pc had smoked and 92pc drank alcohol. The study suggested targeted programmes are needed in primary and secondary school and as cannabis is widely used, special attention should be given to its potential hazards, including psychological effects.
The post Easter term should be pinpointed to prepare young people for the summer months during which drug taking is more likely to begin, said the report. It also calls for confidential school based studies to be carried out to monitor trends.
ENDS