A new book examined the available evidence on a range of issues relating to the use of cannabis among children and adolescents. Areas covered included: patterns of cannabis use; young people's views on cannabis; the potential harmful effects, including mental health problems, educational attainment, and anti-social behaviour; the family and social factors that could initiate cannabis use; and the effects of decriminalization.
Source: Richard Jenkins, Cannabis and Young People: Reviewing the evidence, Jessica Kingsley Publishers (020 7833 2307)
Links: Summary
Date: 2005-Dec
A report examined drugs, solvents and alcohol use and awareness among school children in Northern Ireland in 2003.
Source: Secondary Analysis of the 2003 Young Persons Behaviour and Attitudes Survey (Drugs, Solvents and Alcohol), Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety/Northern Ireland Executive (028 9052 0500)
Links: Report | NIE press release
Date: 2005-Nov
A report provided estimates of the proportion of young people in England aged 11-15 who smoked, drank alcohol or took illegal drugs. Girls were more likely than boys to smoke during the early years of secondary school, and more likely to get drunk or be sick after consuming too much alcohol. Fears that the change in classification of cannabis would result in an increased use of the drug by young people were found to have been misplaced.
Source: Elizabeth Fuller (ed.), Smoking, Drinking and Drug Use Among Young People in England in 2004, NHS Health and Social Care Information Centre (0845 300 6016)
Links: Report (pdf) | Summary (pdf) | Natcen press release (Word file) | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Aug
An education inspectorate report said that the quality of drugs education in schools was improving: but there needed to be a greater emphasis on education regarding alcohol and tobacco.
Source: Drug Education in Schools, HMI 2392, Office for Standards in Education (07002 637833)
Links: Report (pdf) | OFSTED press release | Drugscope press release | NCB press release | Children Now report
Date: 2005-Jul
A report examined recent government-sponsored research on drug prevention among vulnerable groups of young people, and considered how this related to government policy and guidance.
Source: Kimberley Edmonds, Harry Sumnall, Jim McVeigh and Mark Bellis, Drug Prevention Among Vulnerable Young People, Centre for Public Health/Liverpool John Moores University (0151 231 4510)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
A report surveyed drug use among young people (aged 10-15) over the period 1987-2004.
Source: Young People and Illegal Drugs: Attitudes to and experience of illegal drugs 1987-2004, Schools Health Education Unit (01392 667272)
Links: Summary | Drugscope press release
Date: 2005-Jun
A report said that volatile substance abuse was responsible for more deaths among children aged 10-16 than illegal drugs: yet the problem remained hidden owing to prejudice and a lack of public awareness.
Source: Simon Blake, Dangerous Highs, National Children?s Bureau (020 7843 6029) and ChildLine
Links: Summary | Young People Now report
Date: 2005-Jun
A report examined 'binge drinking' and its association with crime and disorder - particularly violent crime - among young adults (aged 18-24). 44 per cent of young adults were identified as binge drinkers (that is, they felt very drunk at least once a month). 27 per cent of binge drinkers among young adults admitted they had committed an offence in the previous 12 months, compared with 13 per cent of other regular drinkers.
Source: Sian Matthews and Anna Richardson, Findings from the 2003 Offending, Crime and Justice Survey: Alcohol-related Crime and Disorder, Research Findings 261, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Findings (pdf)
Date: 2005-Jun
Researchers found that young people in vulnerable groups represented more than half (61 per cent) of 'class A' (the most serious) drug users in 2003.
Source: Jane Becker and Stephen Roe, Drug Use Among Vulnerable Groups of Young People: Findings from the 2003 Crime and Justice Survey, Research Study 254, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Study (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A statistical bulletin considered the extent of illicit drug use among those aged 16-59 in England and Wales in 2003-04, and trends in drug use, based on data from the British Crime Survey. Among people aged 16-24, use of any drug had decreased significantly since 1998, and 'class A' (the most serious) drug use had remained stable. For those aged 16-59, the use of any drug had remained stable, and class A drug use had increased significantly.
Source: Natalia Chivite-Matthews et al., Drug Misuse Declared: Findings from the 2003/04 British Crime Survey, Statistical Bulletin 04/05, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Bulletin (pdf)
Date: 2005-May
A research report said that there was "increasing evidence" of the effectiveness of a scheme aimed at tackling substance misuse among young people.
Source: MORI, Positive Futures: Key Elements - Wave 4, Home Office (020 7273 2084)
Links: Report (pdf)
Date: 2005-Apr
A study said that drug treatment and prevention services had concentrated on problem users, while overlooking the serious damage caused to their families including younger brothers and sisters who were at added risk of developing drug problems themselves.
Source: Marina Barnard, Drugs in the Family: The impact on parents and siblings, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 0215 | JRF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Apr
A report said that young people saw the media as an important source of information about drugs and alcohol: but it highlighted concerns about the quality and reliability of the information available.
Source: Media Messages: A review of drug related messages reaching young people, DrugScope (020 7928 1211)
Links: Report (pdf) | DrugScope press release
Date: 2005-Apr
The government accepted proposals from the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs designed to reduce drug-taking by young people. It accepted the need to improve data on the children of problem drug users, and to update its drugs strategy to focus more on reducing harm to young people.
Source: Government Response to Hidden Harm: The report of an inquiry by the Advisory Council on the Misuse of Drugs, Department for Education and Skills (0845 602 2260)
Links: Response (pdf) | DfES press release | Drugscope press release | Young People Now report
Date: 2005-Mar
A study reviewed the ethics and practicalities of random drug-testing in schools, and considered its likely effectiveness. It argued against the wider use of such testing until there was better evidence concerning its likely impact.
Source: Neil McKeganey, Random Drug Testing of Schoolchildren: A shot in the arm or a shot in the foot for drug prevention?, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 0095 | JRF press release | Guardian report
Date: 2005-Feb
Researchers interviewed 64 young people (aged 14 to 17) to find out why they got drunk, and what happened when they did. Young people who took part in binge drinking sessions out of doors, or in other unsupervised locations, ran an especially high risk of harming their health or safety.
Source: Lester Coleman and Suzanne Cater, Underage 'Risky' Drinking: Motivations and outcomes, York Publishing Services for Joseph Rowntree Foundation, available from York Publishing Services Ltd (01904 430033)
Links: Report (pdf) | JRF Findings 0045 | JRF press release
Date: 2005-Feb