Colossal collapse in drug-taking among NI children – plus drinking and smoking

The figures were released today by the Department of Health and show an unmistakable long-term downward trend in all three categories (extra graphs like the kind above can be found in the web version of this story).

Health chiefs have been monitoring the statistics since about the turn of the millennium.

This latest survey ran between September 2019 and February 2020, and in total 8,118 children completed it.

They were all aged 11 to 16.

~ When it comes to tobacco, the latest figures showed that 10% of children surveyed reported ever having smoked (with 4% indicating that they currently smoked).

~ In the year 2000, 37% of children said they had smoked at least once (with 15% being current smokers).

~ Boys (11%) were more likely to report ever having smoked than girls (8%).

~ 32% of young people indicate that adults in their household smoke.

~ Looking at alcohol use, the new survey results showed that 29% of the children polled had tried alcohol, compared with 59% in 2000.

~ Again, boys were more likely to report having taken a drink (32%) than girls (26%)

~ Of those who had tried alcohol, 25% vomited, 23% got in trouble with their parents or other family member, 22% had “done something they later regretted”, 17% had an argument , 11% had a fight and 8% posted/something on social media that they later wished they hadn’t.

~ On the subject of drugs, this is where the most remarkable cultural change has occurred.

~ In all, 5% of respondents said they had tried them.

~ But back in 2003, which is as far back as the drug figures go, 23% of respondents said they had tried drugs –

~ Boys (6%) were far more likely to report having used drugs than girls (3%).

~ By far the most common drug to be offered to young people was cannabis (12% of those surveyed said they had been offered it).

~ This was followed by solvents (5% had been offered it), ecstasy (5%), cocaine (4%), and LSD (3%).

~ When it comes to the most extreme drugs, 2% of respondents said they had been offered crack cocaine, and 1% said they had been offered heroin.

The survey was called the Young Persons Behaviour & Attitudes Survey (or YPBAS).

Gerry McElwee, head of cancer prevention at Cancer Focus NI, hailed the newly-released figures.

“Prevention and stop smoking services have always been key elements of Cancer Focus NI’s strategy,” he said.

“Our prevention and stop smoking strategies with young people will eventually achieve Cancer Focus NI’s vision of a tobacco free society.”

However, the survey also showed that 18% of young people got lifts with adults who smoked in the car, and the charity called for the government to enact a law restricting smoking in cars with children.

Colossal collapse in drug-taking among NI children – plus drinking and smoking – says fresh survey