A spokesman for the charity Alcohol Concern said: "It reinforces our belief that there needs to be much more emphasis on education and prevention in terms of making people more aware of the dangers of alcohol misuse. Young bodies are just not made for drinking alcohol."
The survey showed the proportion of 11 to 15-year-olds using drugs in the last month rose from 7% in 1998 to 9% in 2000. The proportion using drugs at least once during the previous year rose from 11% to 14% over the same period.
At the age of 11, 3% had tried drugs over the last year - mostly cannabis. Older children were more likely to have experimented, with 28% of 15-year-olds saying they had taken cannabis in the previous 12 months, 9% stimulants such as cocaine, ecstasy or amphetamines, and 1% heroin.
Among 11 to 15-year-olds, 10% said they were regular smokers (at least one cigarette a week). Last year anti-smoking campaigners welcomed figures showing the proportion of young smokers fell from 13% in 1996 to 9% in 1999. The most prolific smokers were 15-year-old girls, with 26% owning up to being regular smokers compared with 25% in 1999.
Sir Paul Nurse, director general of Imperial Cancer Research Fund, said the figures showed why the government was wrong to postpone legislation to ban tobacco advertising. "Young people's smoking rates have been falling since 1996 and it would be tragic if we were seeing the beginning of a reversal in this trend ... The government is sitting on a bill that would save thousands of lives each year and would protect precisely this group of vulnerable people."
A spokeswoman for the Department of Health said: "We remain on course to meet our tar get of reducing smoking among the 11-15 age group to 11% by 2005 and 9% or less by 2010.
"We are concerned by the small increase in the percentage of young people who have used drugs in the last month and in the last year. However we are encouraged that the percentage of pupils reporting use of heroin and cocaine -the drugs which cause the greatest harm - has remained low."
On the rise in teenage drinking, she said: "We look forward to the publication of the main report which will provide more detailed information on the young people's drinking behaviour, and we will continue to monitor trends."
A separate report on teenage drinking published by the Scottish executive found a rise in drinking among 12 to15-year-olds in the period 1998-2000.
· Thirty-nine young people died in 1999 after sniffing butane lighter refills, according to a report on UK deaths from volatile substance abuse by St George's hospital medical school in London. Deaths due to gases, aerosols, glues and similar substances declined steadily over the past 10 years, but still account for one in 60 deaths among teenagers between 15 and 19.
Is Your Teenager Using?
The changes that you've noticed in your teenager may just be signs of growing up, but some can be dead giveaways for alcohol and drug use.
Continued alcohol and drug use will affect your child's behaviour, attitudes and even choice of friends.
If your child is using alcohol and drugs, it's a good bet he (or she) is doing everything possible to keep that activity hidden. The last thing he wants is for his parents to give him a "hassle" about his newly found "entertainment."
But continued alcohol and drug use will affect your child's behaviour, attitudes and even choice of friends.
Here are some signs to look for, if you think that your child may be using:
Mood Swings
Most teenagers go through normal mood swings. But look for extreme changes - one minute happy and giddy followed by withdrawal, depression, or fits of anger or rage.
New Friends?
If you child is using, chances are he will begin hanging out with others with similar interests. Has your child suddenly turned away from his old friends? Is he hanging out with an older (driving age) group or with those that you suspect are using drugs?
Bad Performance in School
Has your child's attitude toward school suddenly changed? Have his grades gone from pretty good to very bad? Has he been skipping classes or school altogether?
Physical Health
Have you noticed a change in appetite? Does your child suddenly have digestive problems. Has he been treated for medical conditions that might be attributed to substance abuse, like gastritis or ulcers? Have his sleeping patterns changed?
"Evidence"
Have you notice any alcoholic beverages missing? How about the medicine cabinet? Anything missing there? Have you found unexplained empty containers around the house or grounds? Any paraphernalia? Has he suddenly started smoking cigarettes openly?
Attitude
Has your child developed a negative attitude against anti-drug or anti-alcohol programs, materials or literature? Has he been in trouble with the law for any reason? Has he developed a bad attitude toward any authority figures in his life? Have you found that your child has generally become dishonest about things?
Little Things
Have you noticed a change in hairstyle or "fashion" choices? Is he suddenly using breath mints consistently? Has he lost interest in tidiness in his room or does he pay less attention to personal hygiene?
Overt Signals
Has anyone ever told you your child is drinking or using drugs? Do you know that he has "experimented." Has he suddenly developed the need for additional money, for vague or unexplained reasons? Have you ever seen him stagger? Or have you noticed any slurred speech? Changes in the pupils of his eyes, or redness or bloodshot eyes?
Conclusion: A Better Way
Instead of stigmatizing alcohol and trying to scare people into abstinence, we need to recognize that it is not alcohol itself but rather the abuse of alcohol that is the problem.
Teaching about responsible use does not require student consumption of alcohol any more than teaching them world geography requires them to visit Nepal, or teaching them civics requires that they run for office or vote in presidential elections. We teach students civics to prepare them for the day when they can vote and assume other civic responsibilities if they choose to do so.
Because either drinking in moderation or abstaining should both be equally acceptable options for adults, we must prepare students for either choice. To do otherwise is both irresponsible and ineffective, if not counterproductive.
A recent study of the effectiveness of alcohol education programs compared those that present an abstinence-only message with those that present drinking in moderation as an option. It is clear that programs accepting responsible use are demonstrably more successful than are no-use-only programs.29
In spite of noble intentions and the expenditure of massive amounts of time, energy, and money the best evidence shows that our current abstinence-oriented alcohol education is ineffective. Simply doing more of what is not working will not lead to success; it is essential that we re-think our approach to the problem. Our youth are too important and the stakes are too high to so otherwise.
