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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. |
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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). |
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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. |
 Independent
on Sunday |
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The Safer Southwark
Partnership gave young people the opportunity to make a short film
about problems associated with substance misuse in the borough.
The project, Get Scene, produced a series of seven short films on
a DVD for young people. The aspiring movie makers with the best
ideas teamed up with professional production companies to make their
film over the summer, and the final seven short films were shown
at the Tate Modern. |
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A Youth
Justice Board study of young offenders identified the following
statistics:
 90% of the sample
had used an illegal drug at some point in their lifetime.
72% used cannabis
daily in the 12 months before their arrest.
51% used two or more
drugs more than once a week.
45.4% had been dependent
on a substance at some point in their lives.
74% drank alcohol
more than once a week.
The majority of drinkers
regularly exceeded six units on a single occasion. |
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What can be done to reduce substance abuse by young people? Get
in touch and let us know your views. |
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 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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Just
Say Know: Talking with Kids about Drugs and Alcohol
To
talk to teens about drugs and alcohol, argue the authors of this
straightforward book, parents first need to know the facts themselves.
Beginning with some age-appropriate general suggestions on opening
communication lines, this nicely organized work goes on to explain
how drugs affect the brain and how possession of even small amounts
of these substances can lead to dire legal consequences. Each of
the remaining chapters focuses on a particular drug group, including
alcohol, caffeine, ecstasy, hallucinogens, inhalants, marijuana,
nicotine, steroids, and stimulants. Information on the most important
things to know about the drug and on how to talk to kids about it
is included for each substance. Informative without being preachy,
this very useful book will arm parents for their own war against
drugs.
 Available to buy from
amazon.com
and amazon.co.uk |
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Buzzed:
The Straight Facts about the Most Used and Abused Drugs from Alcohol
to Ecstasy
"The
gap between scientific information and public information about
drugs is growing hour by hour," declare the authors of this thorough,
popular guide to pharmaceutical and recreational chemicals. The
public's misinformation is only compounded by the fact that most
descriptions of drugs' benefits and risks are oversimplified, inaccurate
and politicised. This guide aims to avoid such pitfalls. Divided
into a dozen sections — Alcohol, Caffeine, Ecstasy, Hallucinogens,
Herbal Drugs, Inhalants, Marijuana, Nicotine, Opiates, Sedatives,
Steroids, and Stimulants — the book adopts a straight, neutral
tone that reflects its commitment to providing unbiased, scientific
fact. This second edition of the guide has been fully revised to
reflect scientists' growing knowledge of how chemicals of all kinds
affect health and development. Best of all, the descriptions are
jargon-free, making this book a great choice for anyone looking
for clear, reliable information about any kind of drug.
Available to buy from
amazon.com
and amazon.co.uk |
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da Vision
exists to impact the community by refocusing the aspirations, re-channelling
the energies and redirecting the activities of young people in a
positive way. It aims to equip and empower individuals and groups
wanting to see a positive change in young people’s lives.
 To
See Lives Changed |
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Violent crime
including gang welfare and the use of firearms affects many urban
communities, with a growing number of alarming incidents reported
in the media. Churches often struggle to find appropriate ways to
respond to these crises and the pastoral needs that arise from them.
God
and the Gangs |
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A report for
the Mayor of London highlighted the fact that it has been clear
for some years that Britain’s education system is failing
to give black boys the start in life which they, and their parents,
are entitled to expect.
How
Schools Fail Black Boys |
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Is it all too
easy for politicians and the media to blame gangsta rappers for
the fact that young people carry guns and knives? Could it be that
the alienated youths that do so have been far more influenced by
other factors such as poor education or family breakdown?
Taking
the Rap? |
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