Forum Brief: Young people

The full results from a national survey on smoking, drinking and drug misuse among young people in England in 2002 have been published on Tuesday by the Department of Health.

Among 11 to 15 year olds in England in 2002, prevalence of taking drugs in the last year fell from 20 per cent to 18 per cent. Cannabis was the most frequently reported illicit drug used in the last year, used by 13 per cent.

Among 16 to 24 year olds in England and Wales in 2002 30 per cent had used drugs in the last year and 19 per cent in the last month.

A spokesman for the DoH told ePolitix.com: "We are encouraged that the number of pupils taking drugs in the last year has decreased from 20 per cent in 2001 to 18 per cent in 2002.

"We have already started to make improvements in the quantity and effectiveness of local drug education and prevention activity which aims to reduce the proportion of drug taking amongst 11-15 year olds.

"These initiatives include the National Healthy School Standard; the framework for Personal Social Health Education and Citizenship; and five million pounds of extra funding for school drug, alcohol and tobacco advisors has been made available. A further £1.3 million for drug, alcohol and tobacco teacher training for 2002/2003.

"The Department of Health has issued £4.12 million in 2003-04 to Local Education Authorities to deliver drug prevention through Education and Health Partnerships.

"In addition the department of health has funded 130 projects within primary schools that encourage primary care teams to be involved in developing drug education work as part of a wider Personal Social and Health Education programme. This work is currently being evaluated by Manchester Metropolitan University and will report in December 2003.

"The home hffice and department for education and skills in partnership with the department of health have also developed a research programme called BLUEPRINT linking school drug education and community action on drugs. This aims to ensure the effectiveness of substance misuse education."

Forum Response: British National Temperance League

Peter Swales, chairman of BNTL, told ePolitix.com: "I am astonished to see the phrase 'only 6 per cent of 11 year olds had used drugs in the last year....' in the DoH press release as that represents a huge number of very young children. Instead of 'only 6 per cent' there should be 'a frightening 6 per cent' because that represents a great deal of heartache and human misery which will only worsen - and cause an early death - for so may children.

"We wish to see a more determined programme to warn children form as young as 5 or 6 that they are in danger from using drugs including alcohol. In addition, new legislation, or at least an immediate industrial agreement, to prevent supermarkets displaying so-called 'alcopops' in a prominent way to encourage children, and less than aware parents, frankly, that these are harmless soft drinks.

"Similarly, there has to be a more vigilant attitude among off-licences and adults outside from buying drinks for children outside. It is commonplace and a main source of drink for children.

"Finally, how many supermarkets, cafe bars, restaurants and shops are vigilant in ensuring that under age young people are not allowed to run through alcoholic drinks at cash tills?

"We are obviously pleased that some trends are downwards, but for every percentage point there is a lot of human misery - and no room for complacency."

Forum Response: CARE

Adam Atkinson, head of communications at CARE, told ePolitix.com: "The latest figures on smoking, drinking and drug misuse among young people are shocking but come as no surprise to those of us that work with children who are vulnerable and marginalised.

"CARE works with young offenders in remand fostering; excluded pupils projects; sibling groups needing foster care; teenagers experiencing crisis pregnancies.

"Our contact with these young people tells us that the loss of hope, absence of parents or positive adult role models and pervasive consumer culture has swept away boundaries to encourage self discipline and opened children to the prey of predators.

"CARE is encouraged that in many instances as shown by the statistics there is a flattening of the increases in substance misuse of the past few years.

"The success of some of our schools work - including our drug education programme for primary age pupils 'Sorting it Out' - indicates that warning and informing young people and empowering them to take active and positive choices in relation to their own behaviour can work.

"Policy needs to move from damage limitation, as if young people are bound to make wrong choices, and address the root causes of this behaviour in the messages society gives and help the aspirations of young people by showing them what is best."

Forum Response: Rotary International

A spokeswoman for Rotary International told ePolitix.com: "The Department of Health's survey on drug and alcohol abuse by young people highlights the continuing need for programmes on drug awareness.

"Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland has a team of 29 drug awareness officers to motivate and inform Rotary Clubs of the various initiatives that exist to steer children away from the drug scene.

"Rotary Clubs have funded many Life Education Centres, the sophisticated mobile classrooms which visit schools to teach the dangers of drugs, tobacco, solvent abuse and alcohol. Rotary also supports Crimestoppers SNAP (Say No and Phone Programme).

"In October Rotary is organising a symposium on drug awareness with experts from the Home Office, Crimestoppers, Life Education Centres, Police and Social Services.

"For more information please contact Robin Jones on 01543 255981."