Drugs and alcohol

Many parents or carers worry that their children may be smoking, drinking or using drugs.

Stopping something from happening in the first place is better than trying to sort it out once it has already happened. Don’t let your children see you smoke, drink to excess or take drugs - your example is crucial.

More young people are drinking, smoking and taking drugs than ever before.

• One in twelve twelve-year-olds and one in three fourteen-year-olds have tried drugs.
• 1,000 children under the age of fifteen have to go to hospital each year with severe alcohol poisoning.
• Deaths associated with butane lighter refills accounted for 56% of all ‘sniffing’ deaths in 1998 (Department of Health).

If you find out that your child has or may have taken drugs, it can be frightening because of the possible effects. This can be due to you not knowing about drugs and not feeling confident talking about them. Most young people who try drugs do not go on to use them all the time.

Addiction, crime and death are not as usual as the stories in the newspapers or on TV can lead us to believe. It is very important that children know about the risks of using drugs, alcohol and volatile substances (for example solvents). More young people have problems through drinking too much than through drug use.

Drug use among young people - how widespread is it?

• Drugs are more common among children and young people than ever before.
• Research shows that about one in twelve twelve year- olds and one in three fourteen-year-olds have tried drugs.
• By the time they reach sixteen years of age, two in every five young people will have tried one type of drug or a mixture of drugs.
• These figures apply across all ethnic groups
• The number of girls who are taking drugs is rising rapidly.
• Currently there are more male drug users than female drug users.

Alcohol use

The most common drug used by young people is alcohol. It is much easier to get hold of and is often quite cheap. Sometimes adults don’t view alcohol use as seriously as other drugs. However, alcohol is involved in violence, accidents and risk taking by young people including increasingly risky sexual behaviour leading to high numbers of teenage pregnancy.

Buying alcohol on behalf of someone under the age of 18 is an offence.

What can you do?

• It is important to discuss drug use early
• Some parents/carers worry that doing this will make their child want to try alcohol or drugs.
• Talking builds up trust and trust helps you talk. By not talking about it you will not protect them.
• Children will already be aware of substance misuse in some way before they leave primary school.
• It is likely that at this early stage, children will take more in when being told about the risks of drug misuse.
• Make sure you tell your children about the risks.
• Clear information and support will help them decide what to do.
• You cannot be sure they will not try drugs but it will help them to make informed choices.
• Seek professional advice

Why do young people use drugs, abuse substances or drink alcohol?

• They want to find out about them;
• they want to break the rules;
• to relax; to escape reality;
• to cope with difficult situations or feelings;
• because they enjoy them; 
• because their friends do it;
• because they are pressured into it by their friends and don't want to be seen to be different; or
• because they are bullied into it.

How do I spot the signs?
There are many signs, which include:

• a young person who is panicky, tense or sleepy;
• complaining of sickness;
• not being able to concentrate;
• lacking energy;
• being depressed;
• having skin problems;
• being aggressive
• changes in relationships with family and friends;
• changes in the way they act;
• changes in how they do at school;
• changes in how much money they have;
•  personal things ‘disappearing’ or being sold; or
• becoming involoved in criminal activity - usually shoplifting.

Follow our useful links page to find out where you can get help and advice.