Drug Alcohol and Tobacco Education (DATE)
The Big Picture
Illegal Drugs and Alcohol
There has been an ongoing decline in the use of illegal drugs by 11-15 year old pupils since 2001. In 2009 less than a quarter (22%) of pupils had ever taken drugs compared with 29% in 2001. Cannabis remains the most widely used illegal drug with 8.9% of 11-15 year olds claiming to have taken it within the last year, a decline from 13.4% in 2001. Prevalence in the use of all substances remains higher in boys than girls.
In Leicestershire drug and alcohol misuse prevalence reflect patterns across the rest of the country with increased prevalence in those areas where people are worse off. In 2006, 14% of ‘vulnerable young people’ had either significant or critical issues in relation to substance misuse, with the highest rates being reported in Coalville and Hinckley.
Factors linked to an increased probability of drug use include being male, older, being a regular smoker, having recently drunk alcohol, and having truanted or been excluded from school.
The number of young people who drink has actually declined in recent years, but those who do drink are consuming more alcohol, more often.
For those who drink to excess there is increased risk of accidents, unprotected and/or unwanted sex, involvement in anti social behaviour and getting in trouble with the police. The longer term impacts of regular excessive drinking such as liver disease are now being seen in much younger age groups.
Smoking
Smoking remains the greatest contributor to preventable ill health and premature death in Leicestershire County and Rutland & in England, and is at the root of why people in some communities across the country are so much worse off, both in terms of health and financially, than people in areas where not so many people smoke. Since smoking is the major cause of coronary heart disease, lung cancer, other cancers and respiratory disease, reducing the prevalence of smoking is a key strand in tackling these inequalities
Across Leicestershire and Rutland around 120,100 smokers (22%) remain exposed to significant health risks from smoking, many of whom are concentrated in our more disadvantaged communities. Melton & Charnwood have the highest smoking prevalence of 24.4% Death rates from tobacco are two to three times higher among disadvantaged social groups than among the better off.
This section includes downloadable resources organised under the following categories:
New and Noteworthy...
Information about trends and perceptions
Information for Enhancement Schools-Reducing Drug Misuse
Learn how social norms influence behaviour
More about smoking prevention in Leicestershire
Discover a Leicestershire school-based smoking prevention project
NICE Guidance: School based interventions to prevent the uptake of smoking among children and young people
Whole school smokefree policies
Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England (2009): A Report
A Smokefree Future-A comprehensive tobacco control strategy for England
Youth Advocacy in action - a smoking prevention film made by young people for young people
The Smokescreen Website
Healthy Lives, Healthy People: A Tobacco Control Plan for England March 2011
Young People, alcohol & influences JRF report June 2011
The latest report on 'Smoking, drinking and drug use' among secondary school pupils aged 11 to 15. This information was obtained in July 2010.
The latest results are similar to the results in 2009
Smoking
- The proportion of pupils who have ever smoked continues to decline
- 5% of pupils smoked regularly (at least once a week)
- Girls are more likely to smoke regularly than boys
- The prevalence of smoking increases with age
- Smoking behaviour is influenced by family & friends
- Pupils who smoke were most likely to get cigarettes by being given them by other people
- 'Proxy' purchase is common amongst 11-15 year olds who smoke
- Regular smoking is associated with other risky behaviour
- The report includes findings on smokers' patterns of consumption, exposure to second hand smoke, dependence on smoking, beliefs and attitudes and sources of information about smoking.
Alcohol & drugs
- There has been a steady decline in the proportion of pupils who drink alcohol
- In 2010 the year on year decline was more pronounced than previously
- The proportion of pupils who had never drunk alcohol rose from 39% in 2003 to 55% in 2010
- Pupils are more likely to have been given alcohol than to buy it - most commonly by families & friends
- The prevalance of drug use has declined since 2001
- In 2010 18% of pupils said they had ever used drugs
- Pupils were most likely to have taken cannabis
- The proportion of pupils who have taken drugs increases with age
- Boys are more likely than girls to have taken drugs
- Pupils aged 11-15 were most likely to have ever drunk alcohol (45%) than to have smoked (27%) or tried drugs (18%)