Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007 - Drug Misuse Information ...

SALSUS
A2
Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and
Substance Use Survey 2006 (SALSUS)
This chapter is based on the Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey
(SALSUS) 2006: National Report. It covers key results concerning drug misuse and provides brief
background information about the survey. The survey was carried out in the Autumn Term whilst
the surveys in 2002 and 2004 were carried out in the Spring Term. This means that the sample of
pupils were therefore around six months younger in 2006. Some of the reduction in drug use
found by the survey between 2004 and 2006 is likely to be due to the younger age of the
respondents, however, whilst this impact must be taken into consideration, it is not enough to
account for all the decline found. For more detail see Background Information. The National
Report was released electronically and can be accessed at
www.drugmisuse.isdscotland.org/publications/abstracts/salsus_national06.htm
Prevalence
Key Points 2006
Overview
■ Nine percent of 13 year olds and 27% of 15 year olds reported that they had used an illicit drug at some
point in their lives (Table A2.1).
■ Seven percent of 13 year olds and 23% of 15 year olds reported that they had used an illicit drug in the
year prior to the survey (Table A2.2).
■ Four percent of 13 year olds and 14% of 15 year olds reported that they had used an illicit drug in the
month prior to the survey. (Table A2.3).
■ There was little difference between boys and girls in the percentage who reported that they had used
illicit drugs in the last month (13 year olds, boys 4%, girls 3%: 15 year olds, boys 14%, girls 12%). (Table
A2.3).
■ Four percent of 15 year olds reported that they usually used illicit drugs at least once a week (including
those reporting use on most days). Four percent of 15 year olds reported that they usually used illicit
drugs once or twice a month and 4% a few times a year. (Table A2.6).
■ Thirty-three percent of 13 year olds and 50% of 15 year olds who were regular smokers had also used
drugs in the last month. The prevalence was lower than this among weekly drinkers; 19% of 13 year olds
and 34% of 15 year olds who were weekly drinkers had also used drugs in the last month, but still higher
than the overall prevalence for all pupils (4% of 13 year olds and 13% of 15 year olds) (Table A2.7).
■ In 2006, just under a quarter (23%) of 13 year olds and over half (53%) of 15 year olds reported that
they had ever been offered illicit drugs. (Table A2.8).
■ There was little difference between boys and girls in their experience of being offered illicit drugs. At age
13, 25% of boys and 21% of girls reported having been offered illicit drugs, whilst at age 15 years old
55% of boys and 51% of girls had been offered illicit drugs (Table A2.8).
Drugs Recorded
■ The most frequently reported drug used was cannabis: 2% of all 13 year olds and 11% of all 15 year olds
reported that they had used cannabis in the last month. Six percent of all 13 year olds and 25% of all 15
year olds reported that they had used cannabis at least once in their lives (Tables A2.4 and A2.5).
■ The reported use of drugs other than cannabis in the last month was low. The use of stimulants (cocaine,
crack, ecstasy, amphetamine, poppers) was reported by 1% of 13 year olds and 5% of 15 year olds. The
use of solvents was reported by 1% of 13 year olds and 2% of 15 year olds. The use of opiates in the last
month was reported by 1% of pupils in both age groups (Table A2.5).
■ The reported lifetime use for stimulants was 3% for 13 year olds and 11% for 15 year olds; and for
solvents 3% for 13 year olds and 5% for 15 year olds. Equivalent figures for opiates were 1% for 13 year
olds and 2% for 15 year olds (Table A2.4).
Drug Misuse Statistics Scotland 2007
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