A “frightening” alcohol and drug crisis is rife among teenagers in West Dunbartonshire who are struggling to cope with day-to-day life, say charity bosses. A new survey on substance abuse reveals grim rates of smoking, drinking and drug use among 13 and 15-year-olds across the area. The statistics say a quarter of 15-year-olds in West Dunbartonshire have taken drugs in the past year, while almost three-quarters of children aged 13 said they had been drunk. And one in 10 teenagers class themselves as regular smokers at the age of 15. The figures also reveal that more than 30 percent of those surveyed are struggling with their mental health – an overall near 10 percent increase on the last survey carried out in 2013. The questionnaire saw 39 percent of 15-year-olds recording an “overall borderline/abnormal” mental health score, compared to 36 percent of 13-year-olds. Today (Tuesday), West Dunbartonshire’s licensing forum will discuss the 2018 Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS), which asked secondary schools across the area to participate. A total of 80 percent of schools responded and 527 S2 and S4 pupils took part. , chief executive of Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol (DACA), branded the survey “worrying” and said it raises issues which urgently need to be addressed. She said celebrity endorsements of harmful substances also need to raised after singer Lewis Capaldi brought a bottle of Buckfast on stage during his Brits win last week. Mags commented: “After several years of alcohol consumption amongst young people being on a downward trajectory, the statistics do not paint a positive picture. “Unfortunately, it is not just alcohol consumption amongst young people that is increasing and the figures should be seen in the context of the report as a whole. “It also shows a worrying upward trend in drug use and mental health issues amongst young people and suggests they are struggling to cope with day to day life in West Dunbartonshire. “We need to start addressing this not just as an alcohol service but as a community because it impacts on us all, whether we have children or not.” She said the easy availability of both drugs and alcohol urgently needs to be addressed. And Donnie McGilveray, of Dumbarton drugs support service Alternatives, said it appears to be “the norm” for young people to be offered drugs. Figures show 49 percent of 15-year-olds reported it would be very or fairly easy to get illegal drugs if they wanted to – an increase of 14 percent since 2013. Twenty-two percent of 13-year-olds surveyed have been offered drugs compared to 43 percent of 15-year-olds. Meanwhile, a total of nine percent of 15-year-olds surveyed felt they needed to get help because of their drug use. Sixty-nine percent of 15-year-olds said they had had an alcoholic drink, compared to 32 percent of 13-year-olds. Youngsters are also managing to buy booze in shops, with seven percent of 13-year-olds report
West Dunbartonshire,Buckfast,Facebook,Twitter,Education,Alcohol,Drugs,Social media,Smoking,Dumbarton,
A “frightening” alcohol and drug crisis is rife among teenagers in West Dunbartonshire who are struggling to cope with day-to-day life, say charity bosses. A new survey on substance abuse reveals grim rates of smoking, drinking and drug use among 13 and 15-year-olds across the area. The statistics say a quarter of 15-year-olds in West Dunbartonshire have taken drugs in the past year, while almost three-quarters of children aged 13 said they had been drunk. And one in 10 teenagers class themselves as regular smokers at the age of 15. The figures also reveal that more than 30 percent of those surveyed are struggling with their mental health – an overall near 10 percent increase on the last survey carried out in 2013. The questionnaire saw 39 percent of 15-year-olds recording an “overall borderline/abnormal” mental health score, compared to 36 percent of 13-year-olds. Today (Tuesday), West Dunbartonshire’s licensing forum will discuss the 2018 Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS), which asked secondary schools across the area to participate. A total of 80 percent of schools responded and 527 S2 and S4 pupils took part. , chief executive of Dumbarton Area Council on Alcohol (DACA), branded the survey “worrying” and said it raises issues which urgently need to be addressed. She said celebrity endorsements of harmful substances also need to raised after singer Lewis Capaldi brought a bottle of Buckfast on stage during his Brits win last week. Mags commented: “After several years of alcohol consumption amongst young people being on a downward trajectory, the statistics do not paint a positive picture. “Unfortunately, it is not just alcohol consumption amongst young people that is increasing and the figures should be seen in the context of the report as a whole. “It also shows a worrying upward trend in drug use and mental health issues amongst young people and suggests they are struggling to cope with day to day life in West Dunbartonshire. “We need to start addressing this not just as an alcohol service but as a community because it impacts on us all, whether we have children or not.” She said the easy availability of both drugs and alcohol urgently needs to be addressed. And Donnie McGilveray, of Dumbarton drugs support service Alternatives, said it appears to be “the norm” for young people to be offered drugs. Figures show 49 percent of 15-year-olds reported it would be very or fairly easy to get illegal drugs if they wanted to – an increase of 14 percent since 2013. Twenty-two percent of 13-year-olds surveyed have been offered drugs compared to 43 percent of 15-year-olds. Meanwhile, a total of nine percent of 15-year-olds surveyed felt they needed to get help because of their drug use. Sixty-nine percent of 15-year-olds said they had had an alcoholic drink, compared to 32 percent of 13-year-olds. Youngsters are also managing to buy booze in shops, with seven percent of 13-year-olds report
0 Yorumlar