Kids and drugs

One in five secondary school kids say they've tried drugs at least once in the past 12 months, according to figures from a survey on drug use, drinking and smoking in young people published by the UK's Information Centre for Health and Social Care.

One in four of the young people interviewed said they had drunk alcohol in the past week. One in ten said they smoked regularly.

In total, 9000 youths aged 11 to 15 from 305 schools were interviewed during autumn term 2005. The survey shows that drug taking increases with age. Six per cent of 11 year olds say they had taken drugs in the last year compared with a third of the 15 year olds. In total 6% of students used drugs at least one a month. The survey finds 1% of students reporting that they took drugs on most days with a further 2% taking drugs at least one a week. One in four say they had been offered cannabis and this was the drug students were most likely to use, 12% reported that they had tried the drug. Of other drugs offered 18% report they had been offered volatile substances. A total of 4% of students say they had taken Class A drugs such as cocaine during the year. As with drug use the number of students drinking increases with age. Whilst 3% of 11 year olds surveyed say they had taken a drink in the previous seven day this rose to nearly half of 15 years olds. Boys admit to drinking more alcohol than girls, an average of 11.5 units in a week compared with 9.5 units for girls. Girls, however, are more likely to be regular smokers (10% of girls compared with 7% of boys). Again there is a steep increase in smoking with age (1% of 11 years olds compared with 20% of 15 year olds).

Record numbers of teenagers are requiring drug treatment as a result of smoking skunk, the highly potent cannabis strain that is 25 times stronger than resin sold a decade ago. More than 22,000 people were treated last year for cannabis addiction — and almost half of those affected were under 18. With doctors and drugs experts warning that skunk can be as damaging as cocaine and heroin, leading to mental health problems and psychosis for thousands of teenagers, The Independent on Sunday newspaper has reversed its landmark campaign for cannabis use to be decriminalised. A decade after its stance culminated in a 16,000-strong pro-cannabis march to London's Hyde Park — and was credited with forcing the Government to downgrade the legal status of cannabis to class C — an editorial in the newspaper states that there is growing proof that skunk causes mental illness and psychosis. The decision comes as statistics from the NHS National Treatment Agency show that the number of young people in treatment almost doubled from about 5,000 in 2005 to 9,600 in 2006, and that 13,000 adults also needed treatment.

Comment…

"When I was 13 smoked weed for the first time; when I was 14 meth and LSD, 16 cocaine, with drink all the time too. By the time I was 21 I had done 300+ hits of acid, smoked tons of pot, snorted eight balls of coke on the regular, smoked eighths of meth. I was a dope dealer just for the profit to get high with. I stole guns a lot to trade for large quantities of dope to party with. I started smoking the strongest weed in the world. My wife’s dad hasn’t gone one day with out smoking in 20 years. Her whole family grows, sells, and smokes but her. I got saved in April 2005 after a huge coke binge. I was broken over my sinful sick nature and that I have sinned against God who died for me. I repented and threw away all my dope cigarettes. I smoked two packs a day. I haven’t gone back and have been sober for two years. Jesus Christ gets all the glory for saving me, giving me the strength to repent of my sins, and throwing away that garbage and embracing the cross. I must thank the following musicians and pastors who have mentored me and encourage me daily: POD, Cross Movement, Hazakim, Stephen the Levite, Emery, Timothy Brindle, DJ Morphiziz, Demon Hunter, underOATH, 12 Stones, KJ-52, Pillah, Ambassador, OC Supertones. Preachers: John McArthur, Ray Comfort, Paul Washer, John Piper, RC Sproul, Todd Friel, The Way Of The Master Crew, Spurgeon, Edwards, John Calvin, James McDonald, Martin Luther, Dr Vernon McGee. God bless all of y’all. Thanks for your hard work." — George

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