Impact of illicit substance activity on young people

The investigation was a peer-led and participative assessment of substance activity and awareness in 12- to 19-year-olds in south-east Glasgow, UK. The aim of the study was to examine the prevalence of substance activity and the impact that illicit drugs have on the lives of the young people who live in this area. The study consisted of an outreach research investigation of 147 young people. Semi-structured interviews were conducted and used in the development of a questionnaire subsequently distributed to 200 young people in the area. Of questionnaire respondents, 91.9% had tried alcohol, 53.2% cannabis, 35.5% LSD, 33.9% temazepam, 27.4% amphetamines and 22.0% ecstasy, with an average age of 14.3 years. While little of the variance in use was explained by either sex or age, lifetime experience was associated with attitudes to drugs and to drug education. Those who had used a greater number of drugs in their lives (P < 0.01) and who were currently using a wider range of different drugs (P < 0.01) had more negative attitudes to drug education in schools and to teachers as drug educators.