From: shug <[s--g] at [sol.co.uk]>
Newsgroups: alt.drugs.usenet,rec.drugs.misc,alt.drugs,talk.politics.drugs
Subject: Legalise Cannabis Campaign Scotland news
Date: Wed, 21 Aug 1996 15:29:10 -0700

Legalise Cannabis Campaign Scotland - August's NEWS!
"Author" content="Stuart Young"

August 1996 Cannabis News
Friday 16th August
SCOTS TEENAGERS TOP UK DRUG USE TABLE

Teenage drug use is at an all-time high in Scotland, according to a new survey, which found that the majority 
of 15 and 16-year olds had used drugs. Rates of drug use were consistently higher in Scotland than the rest of 
the UK. Almost all the children had drunk alcohol, two-thirds had smoked cigarettes and over half had used 
cannabis.

Dr Patrick Miller, who carried out the survey said it was a "complete surprise" that Scottish figures were 
higher than the rest of the UK. 14% of Scottish males and 10 % of females had used ecstasy, compared with 8.5 % 
and 7 % in England. 16% of male Scots had used tranquillisers such as temazepam, compared with only 5 % in the 
rest of the UK. Heroin had been used by 2.5 % of Scots and 1.7 % in England. Neither Dr Miller or the Scottish 
Office could offer any reason why more Scots used each drug.

The study was conducted by Edinburgh University®s Alcohol Research Group. Over 7000 pupils at both state and 
private schools throughout the UK completed a questionnaire. The study is part of a wider European survey which 
is due to report in January, and will reveal differences in the smoking, drinking and drug taking habits of 
young people in 26 European countries. 

David Liddell, director of the Scottish Drugs Forum, said that the high rates of usage were not surprising 
given the extent of recreational use. He said he supported pragmatic responses to the problem, which included 
providing young people with credible information about drugs. He warned against an overreaction against illicit
drugs when legalised substances cause greater problems. "Alcohol is still the main drug of use among people of 
that age and it causes more problems." The survey found that half the pupils had had more than five drinks in 
one session in the 30 days prior to the survey.

The Scottish Office said it no doubts about the seriousness of the problem. "That is why the Secretary of State 
attaches such importance to the fight against drugs and why he initiated the Scotland Against Drugs campaign. 
We have strategies in place to try and do something about it."


Shug