Background
to the Research
- This
research looks at trends and patterns in drug use and attitudes among
young people.
- The
findings provide information that is relevant to the objectives of
the drugs strategy that was launched in 1999 in NI. These objectives
are:
-
To reduce the percentage of young people under 25 reporting use
of illicit drugs;
-
To delay the age of first use of illict drugs;
-
To facilitate the delivery of drug information/education to young
people;
-
To increase the number of drug education/prevention programmes,
with formal evaluation as an integral element;
-
To increase the number of education programmes delivered in schools,
youth facilities and colleges.
Research
Approach
- This
report presents descriptive and multivariate analyses of the YPBA
Survey data and data gathered from an adjunct to the NI Omnibus Survey
(this adjunct duplicated most of the YPBA Survey questions). It is
a follow-on from the initial findings of the YPBA Survey, published
in 2002.
- The
YPBA Survey fieldwork was completed in October-November 2000, and
the Omnibus Survey was completed in October/November 2000 and March
2001.
- The
YPBA Survey interviewed 6,297 11-16 year olds in the secondary school
system, and the Omnibus Survey adjunct achieved a sample of 640 16-25
year olds in households.
Main
Findings
- Levels
of drug use reported in the YPBA Survey, in terms of ever having used
an illicit drug and/or current use, are broadly comparable to figures
quoted in other recent high quality surveys, yet the amounts reported
are higher than other surveys. This indicates that drug use among
young people is continuing to rise.
- 32.9%
of YPBA respondents report having been offered drugs, and 24.5% tried
or used at least one illicit drug at least once. 16.5% state they
are currently using at least one drug, and 6.8% claim to be using
drugs frequently.
- The
corresponding figures for the older respondents (16-25 years) from
the Omnibus Survey are: 59.5% have been offered drugs; 37.3% have
used a drug at least once; 23.1% report current use; and 5.2% claim
frequent use.
- After
alcohol and tobacco, the most commonly used drugs in the YPBA sample
are solvents, with 9% claiming current use, and cannabis (9.5% claiming
current use). Cannabis users tend to be older than solvent abusers.
- For
the Omnibus sample, cannabis is the most commonly used drug (21.2%
claiming current use), and ecstasy (6.6%).
- Multiple
drug use is relatively uncommon. Among the YPBA respondents, 10% report
using more than one drug in their lifetimes and 6.3% are currently
using more than one drug. The equivalent figures for Omnibus respondents
are 22.6% and 8.1%.
- In
the YPBA Survey, boys, older pupils, students in secondary schools,
pupils who receive free school meals, and those located in the Belfast
and South Eastern Education and Library Boards all report higher rates
of drug use. Respondents from the Southern Education and Library Board
reported lower amount of drug use than other Boards. This is mostly
due to a 'lack of exposure' than any other factor, i.e. fewer respondents
being offered drugs.
- In
the Omnibus Survey, males and the unemployed or those in part-time
work report higher rates of drug use.
- The
YPBA data shows that first use of drugs, ease of access, current use
of, and offering drugs to others, are all strongly linked with age.
While 5.4% of 12 year olds had used drugs, this figure rises to 32.8%
for 16 year olds.
- This
link with age is also seen in the Omnibus sample, but only in late
adolescence, reaching a 'plateau' in the early twenties.
- In
both samples, peers of the same age or friends were overwhelmingly
reported as those who first offered drugs to the respondents. Significantly
more of those who were first offered drugs by someone they knew subsequently
try drugs.
- However,
in the YPBA sample, peers were reported to be the group most likely
to censure the drug use of users.
- Young
people in the YPBA survey who use drugs were also less likely than
non-drug users to state that they felt happy.
- Multivariate
analyses of the YPBA data established that increased age and being
male were consistently associated with all types of drug use.
- Multivariate
analyses of the Omnibus data (the older sample) also confirmed a link
with being male and drug use but did not find a consistent relationship
between increased age and drug use.
- Between
those exposed and those not exposed to drug education, the actual
difference in claimed knowledge about the dangers of drugs is small
in size. While large majorities of non-users of drugs see the use
of all drugs as dangerous, so too do considerable proportions of drug
users.
- From
the YPBA data, it was found that experience of drug education at school
was associated with less drug use, but also that experience of drug
education delivered through youth groups and community organisations
was associated with more drug use. Generally, no such associations
were found in the Omnibus sample.
- Some
previous users of 'hard' drugs or combinations of 'soft' drugs were
found to have moderated their drug use. However, in contrast to 'soft'
drug users (even those who had used several 'soft' drugs) users of
'hard' drugs were less likely to have stopped using drugs.
- Among
those who stated that they used drugs at some time in their lives,
approximately one-third claimed to have ceased drug use altogether.
- For
YPBA respondents, the experience of drug education at school was found
to be associated with ceasing to use drugs.
- More
research is needed in the following areas:
- Tthe
effects that socio-economic background and/or geographic location
have on drug use;
- The
social context surrounding drug use, especially the influence
of peers and families;
- The
content, perception and effects of drug education.
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