Printer-friendly version

The aim of the study was to assess awareness and knowledge of a range of illicit drugs (cannabis, LSD, magic mushrooms, Ecstasy, amphetamines, cocaine, heroin and solvents) among young people.¹

The survey was carried out with 3,560 children aged 10-17 in schools, colleges and regional training organisations in Northern Ireland from November 1996 to January 1997. Results were presented in the report for age groups 10-13 and 14-17 year olds.

Main findings

Unprompted awareness of names for drugs

When young people were asked to record the names of all the drugs they could think of, it was found that:

• 69 different names for drugs were identified.
• Ecstasy was the most commonly named drug - 54% of 10-13 year olds and 69% of 14-17 year olds mentioned Ecstasy or other names for it.
• 14-17 year olds knew more names for drugs than 10-13 year olds did.

Prompted awareness of drugs

When asked to choose which drugs they had heard of from a list of 39 possible names, it was found that:

• 14-17 year olds were more aware of all drugs than the 10-13 year olds.
• Both age groups were more aware of cannabis than any other drug.

What drugs look like and how drugs are taken

When those aware of each drug were asked to identify what each drug looked like from a list of options, it was found that:

• With age, there was increasing accuracy in identifying what drugs looked like.
• There was a wide range of responses to all drugs from 10-17 year olds.
• Ecstasy was widely recognised, with 67% of 10-13 year olds and 88% of 14-17 year olds identifying it as a tablet.

Effects of drugs

When those aware of each drug were asked to select the correct option from a list of statements outlining possible effects of each drug, it was found that:

• Over half of 10-17 year olds thought all drugs affected the brain. The proportion of 14-17 year olds agreeing with this was higher than the proportion of 10-13 year olds.
• Less than half of 10-13 year olds thought LSD, magic mushrooms, Ecstasy, amphetamines, cocaine or heroin were addictive.
• Ecstasy produced the highest response to the statement "small amounts can lead to death"; with 54% of 10-13 year olds and 70% of 14-17 year olds agreeing with this statement.

Feelings about the drug

When those aware of each drug were asked to select from a list of feelings those which they felt someone who had just taken each drug might have, it was found that:

• Feelings such as "getting into the music" and "seeing different colours" were widely held responses to most drugs among 14-17 year olds.
• Feelings such as "headaches" were commonly identified as a response to most drugs.
• Young people were not differentiating between the different drugs and their (drug) associated feelings.

Perceived harm of drug

When those aware of each drug were asked to rate, on a scale of 1-10, the harm of each drug, it was found that:

• Ecstasy was rated as most harmful by 10-13 year olds, followed by cocaine and heroin.
• Heroin was rated as most harmful by 14-17 year olds, followed by cocaine.
• Solvents were rated as least harmful by 10-13 year olds.
• Cannabis was rated as least harmful by 14-17 year olds.
• Females generally gave drugs a slightly more harmful rating than males.

The 10-13 year olds generally ranked drugs as more harmful than 14-17 year olds did, except for cocaine and heroin, where there was little difference between the age groups.

Legal status of drugs

When those aware of each drug were asked to identify whether each drug was illegal to possess, illegal to sell, or legal, it was found that:

• Over half of 10-13 year olds knew that the named drugs were illegal to possess (the proportion rose to 61% for Ecstasy and 28% thought solvents were illegal to possess);
• Slightly less than half of 10-13 year olds knew that the named drugs were illegal to sell (21% thought solvents were illegal to sell);
• Among 14-17 year olds, around 70% knew that the named drugs were illegal to possess (the proportion rose to 78% for Ecstasy);
• Fewer knew it was illegal to sell drugs (18% thought solvents were illegal to sell);
• A lower proportion of 14-17 year olds than 10-13 year olds thought that cannabis, Ecstasy, amphetamines, cocaine and heroin were legal.

Types of drugs used

When asked to select which drugs they had used:

• 93% of 10-13 year olds and 62% of 14-17 year olds had used none of the drugs listed;
• 14-17 year olds were more likely to report the use of poppers (25%) and cannabis (23%).

Reference

1. Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland. Drugs - What young people know: report on knowledge and awareness of drugs among 10-17 year olds in Northern Ireland. Belfast: HPANI, 1998.