Existing Research
Last year the BBC published a report showing statistics about illegal drug use among teenagers. The figures, from research and surveys in 2001, were from the Government Statistical Survey. The survey shows that drug use is more common between teenagers aged 11 to 15 than it is among an older age group 16 to 24 year olds. 28% of 16 to 24 year olds had used drugs in the past year compared with 38% of 15 year olds. Surprisingly figures from the wider age group, 16 to 24 year olds, found no increase in drug use compared to successive surveys between 1994 and 2000. This suggests that widespread use of drugs, most usually cannabis, rises most sharply in the middle teenage years.
Students usually attend university aged 18 to 23. Research, published in the journal Sociology, revealed that while, at 18, 63% of students had tried an illegal drug, by 23 this had risen to 76%. Although a significant percentage of these were dominated by cannabis use the report did show a substantial rise in cocaine use in this age group as well. Whereas, at 18, almost the entire sample said that they would never use the stimulant, by 23 more than a quarter of them had tried it. It is a popular drug amongst young adults (Data from Sharpiro.R 2003). Notice that the research entirely based on students has a significantly higher percentage of drug users than the government’s survey of the same age group of which aren’t all students.
Research published in August 2001 by the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety illustrates the extent of drinking, smoking and drug use among secondary school students all over Great Britain. Students completed a standardised questionnaire under examination conditions. The questionnaire discovered that approximately four in every ten boys and three in ten girls had used drugs at some time, usually cannabis or inhalants. Around 6% of both boys and girls had tried ecstasy and 2-3% of both boys and girls were reported to have taken the class A drugs heroin and cocaine, to put things in perspective that’s 30 students in a school of 1000. The reported levels of illicit drug use in boys are very similar in both England and Wales but lower than amongst boys in Scotland. There has been a significant increase in illicit drug use amongst girls when compared to the 1995 survey.
Further investigation from the Department of Health and Social Services found trends in those whom have used drugs. Family structure was associated with patterns of smoking, drinking and illicit drug use. Teenagers living with both parents were significantly less likely than others to be heavy users of illegal substances. Low esteem amongst girls, but not boys, was associated with heavier use of cigarettes, alcohol, intoxication and having both alcohol and drug-related problems. Depressed mood was associated with greater inhalant/solvent use amongst boys and with heavier tobacco, alcohol and illicit drug use and related problems amongst girls.
Factors Influencing Drug Use
There are several identified factors that lead to drug use, including peer pressure, personality, society, genetics family and pleasure. “These can be split into 2 broad categories- individual influences (family, peer pressure, society, etc) and environmental influences (family, peer pressure, society, etc)”(BMA, 1997:40). These factors have been altered in the questionnaire to become more realistic to why the person thinks they have taken drugs for example they would be unlikely to think that their genetics or personality was the reason behind their drug use. Instead the factors chosen were enjoyment, curiosity, peer pressure, to relax, to ease pain or other.
Peer Pressure
It is argued that peer pressure is the main factor influencing drug use, “By the teenage years, the influence of friends rather than family is perhaps the factor which directly affects young people’s take-up the most. As such, peer pressure is widely believed to be one of the best predictors of drug use”(BMA, 1997:43).
Drug Acceptability
Taking drugs has become “part of the lifestyle of a significant and non-deviant proportion of students” (Sharpiro. R, 2003). Increased consumption of the cannabis is reflected across the study, and Professor Parker argues that it is becoming increasingly ‘normalised’ in British society, even amongst abstainers. “Nearly two thirds of abstainers studied held tolerant or approving attitudes of drug takers. Sensible, occasional, recreational drug users, particularly users of cannabis, were condoned rather than condemned” (Sharpiro. R, 2003). The same is happening with class A ‘dance drugs’ such as ecstasy “What the Class A stimulant drug users have done, however, is pose a very knotty political dilemma. As primarily educated, employed young citizens with otherwise conforming profiles, they challenge the war on drugs discourse with crime and personal tragedy.” (Professor Parker in Sharpiro. R, 2003).
Drug Availability
University is a gathering of thousands of youngsters from different places and with different backgrounds, some with previous experience of drug-use and some without. Many students have access to drugs, which leads to a widespread predominance of drugs amongst students, and according to Professor Parker (in Sharpiro. R, 2003) “all those young people who wish to try drugs are doing so.”
The rising availability of drugs must be one of the major reasons for the increase in their consumption. The results of the questionnaire show, in agreement with other existing research, that cannabis is the most popular drug, this could well be due to the fact that it is also the most accessible. 84.3% of 23 year olds surveyed stated that they would find it ‘easy’ to obtain cannabis, with over 90% reporting that they could easily gain access to at least one drug. “This phenomenon through the increasingly popular method of distribution whereby young people rely on their friends and friends-of-friends to ‘sort’ them.”(Sharpio. R, 2003).
A first-year economics student, who preferred not to be named, agreed with this assertion. “Generally I rely on friends to supply me with drugs. I would say I probably don't have the confidence to approach their dealer myself, although we know each other by sight. It's just easier this way. Because most recreational drug users are otherwise fairly law-abiding, ‘sorting' each other acts as a filter or social device which allows them to obtain social drugs without venturing into the world of ‘dodgy’ dealers and so risk apprehension or trouble.”
Research methods/ techniques
There are number of ways to collect data. The most effective method of collecting quantative data from students is to use a questionnaire. Questionnaires are ideal to gain large amounts of group data from. Although they are relatively easy to prepare they are a great way of obtaining feedback on a particular topic. The use of a questionnaire enables me to ask each student the same question and it also means I can't re-word them to change the meaning. The information I will receive from my twenty used questionnaires will provide me with quality-grouped data, with this I will use closed questions so my answers are restricted making it easier to draw conclusions from.
Questionnaire
To view the questionnaire, see Appendix 1.
20 questionnaires were given out to students of all age groups ranging from 16-30+, of which 10 were male and 10 were female. Due to the questions being entirely based around drug trends, the questionnaire was only given out to participants whom had taken drugs at one time or another. Furthermore, we know how many students have taken drugs as existing research tells us that the percentage of students is 76% by the time they are 23.
Results of research/ findings
To view the all results and summaries see Appendix 2.
If I were to do the project again, I would focus more upon class C drugs, such as inhalants, as they seem to be a common feature in other existing researches. I would also find out the average amount of drugs a student is taking and what effects it’s having on them.
Conclusion
Endless hangovers and ‘come-downs’ mean missed lectures and bad results. However serious drug problems amongst students are very rare, “Of the one in five students who drop out of university each year, drug or alcohol problems are a significant factor for only 7% of them” (Dennis. S, 1999). Not all universities have drug problems or the same amount of drug users, everywhere is different. Some students will pass their time without being offered or encountering any serious drugs. Most students drug taking remains well within the realms of the ‘mostly harmless’. Few drugs commonly used by students are likely to cause death or serious health problems, although well publicised, deaths from ecstasy are relatively rare. The chemicals in cannabis, ecstasy or LSD are not physically addictive. “The most obvious risk with illegal drugs is that they are just that - illegal. Cannabis possession attracts a maximum penalty of five years in prison and an unlimited fine. It's even an offence to allow premises to be used for the consumption of drugs - something students in shared accommodation may want to be aware of” (Dennis. S, 1999).
Bibliography
Aldridge. J, et al, 1998 - Illegal Leisure
Balding. J, 1994 - Young People and Illegal Drugs
British Medical Association - The Misuse of Drugs
Cowley. J, 1980 - Pastoral Care in Schools and Colleges
Torkildsen.G, 1992- Leisure and Recreation Management (3rd edition)
Sharpiro. R, 2003- www.studentdirect.co.uk, Article on Professor Parker
BBC, 2002- , Drug use surges in mid teens
Dennis. S, Aug 19, 1999 www.education.guardian.co.uk, Drink and drugs - what's the score?
www.capacitybuilder.co.uk
