Objective-To monitor young people's knowledge and experience of illicit drugs between 1969 and 1994 at intervals offive years.Design-The same anonymously completed questionnaire was used throughout.Setting-Three Wolverhampton secondary schools representing three different socioeconomic groups.Subjects-392 pupils aged 14 to 15 completed the questionnaire in 1994. Previous sample sizes were 471 in 1969, 523 in 1974, 648 in 1979, 540 in 1984, and 380 in 1989. Main outcome measures-Self reported levels of knowledge and experience ofillicit drugs.Results-Over 25 years the proportion of pupils who knew someone taking drugs more than quadrupled from 15% (71/471) to 65% (254/392), and the proportion who had been offered drugs increased ninefold from 5% (24) to 45% (175). Both of these proportions more than doubled over the past five years. In 1994 the proportions of pupils mentioning "ecstasy" (methylenedioxymethamphetamine), amphetamines, and crack cocaine increased significantly (P<0.01) and the proportion mentioning opiates decreased significantly (P< 0.01). "Poppers" (amyl nitrite) were mentioned for the first time. "To feel big, to show off, look grown up" has continued to be the main perceived reason for taking drugs.Television has continued to be the main source of information.Conclusions-In the past five years in particular young people's exposure to illicit drugs has increased dramatically. Despite more education about drugs, pupils' knowledge remains limited. Social pressures remain the first perceived reason for taking drugs. The media have a responsibility not to glamorise drugs.
Wolverhampton WV3 9DYJ Denham Wright, consultant in public health medicine (retired)
Objective-To establish a baseline of knowledge to plan an effective health education programme in schools. The survey was repeated at five year intervals from 1969 to 1989.Design-To preserve consistency, the same anonymous questionnaire, which was confidential to the research workers, was used throughout.Setting-Three secondary schools in Wolverhampton in different parts of the town and representing different social groups.Subjects-Sample sizes ranged from 471 fourth year pupils (aged 14 to 15) in 1969 to 540 in 1984 and 380 in 1989, the decrease being due mainly to the falling birth rate. There were slightly more girls than boys, and the pupils covered the whole range of academic ability.Results-Over the 20 years the proportion of pupils who knew someone taking drugs more than doubled from 15% (71) to 31% (117) and the proportion who had been offered drugs almost quadrupled from 5% (24) to 19% (72). The changes taking place over the past five years were characterised by an increased knowledge about drugs and the first mention of "crack," a purified form of cocaine, and "ecstasy" (methylenedioxymethamphetamine). Peer influence continued to be given as the prime reason for taking drugs. Over the 20 years, though less often mentioned in 1989, television and newspapers remained the most common source of information.Conclusions-These results suggest the need for responsible coverage by the mass media and for more effective health and social education programmes to prevent the spread of drug misuse.
The experience of illicit drugs, after increasing dramatically to a peak in 1994, has levelled out in 1999. Although the knowledge of the names of drugs has steadily increased, knowledge of the effects has remained limited. Social and group pressures remain the main perceived reason for taking drugs and many may see drugs as a way of coping with stress. Progress in education about drugs must take account of wider issues in society.
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