The European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD)
Printer-friendly versionThe following findings for UK pupils are taken from 2003 survey figures1:
- 38% have ever used marijuana or hashish, compared to the average of 21%.
- 9% have ever used other illicit drugs (other than cannabis), compared to the average of 6%.
- 12% have ever used inhalants, compared to the average of 10%.
- 2% report use of tranquillisers or sedatives without a doctor's prescription, compared to the average of 6%.
Prevalence (%) of drug use among students in the UK ESPAD 1995, 1999 and 2003
|
Boys |
Girls |
All students |
||||||||
| Prevalence | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | 1995 | 1999 | 2003 | |
| Amphetamine | Lifetime | 15 | 8 | 2 | 12 | 7 | 3 | - | 8 | 3 |
| Cannabis | Lifetime | 44 | 39 | 41 | 38 | 32 | 35 | - | 35 | 38 |
| Last 30 days | 29 | 18 | 23 | 20 | 15 | 16 | - | 16 | 20 | |
| Ecstasy | Lifetime | 9 | 3 | 5 | 7 | 3 | 5 | - | 3 | 5 |
| Inhalants | Lifetime | 20 | 14 | 12 | 21 | 17 | 13 | - | 15 | 12 |
| LSD | Lifetime | 17 | 5 | 3 | 12 | 3 | 1 | - | 5 | 2 |
| Tranquillisers or sedatives* | Lifetime | 7 | 6 | 2 | 10 | 3 | 1 | - | 4 | 2 |
* without a doctor's prescription
Reference
- ESPAD. Summary of the 2003 findings. www.espad.org/diagrambilder/summary.pdf Accessed 29 March 2006.