Substance use among early school leavers is significantly higher than among young people attending schools, according to new research from the National Advisory Committee on Drugs (NACD) that was launched today by the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs, Mr. Pat Carey, TD.
The research Risk and Protection Factors for Substance Use Among Young People is one of the first studies of this kind undertaken on substance use among young people (15-18 year olds) who had left school early in Ireland.
The study primarily looks at the factors associated with substance use among those who left school early, as well as aiming to identify the risk and protective factors that influence young people’s decisions regarding substance use by comparison with a matched group of school going young people from the same catchment areas.
991 young people were interviewed and the early school leavers cohort were attending either a Youthreach or Community Training Centre. Fieldwork for the study was conducted by Ipsos MORI and the results were analysed by Mr Trutz Haase and Dr Jonathan Pratschke on behalf of the NACD. The findings of the study suggest that substance use among 15-18 year olds may be underestimated as such estimates are normally based on studies of those attending school.
The research found that:
- Smoking: 82% of early school-leavers have smoked during their lifetime compared to 53% of school attendees.
- Alcohol: 90% of early school leavers have drunk alcohol at least once compared to 88% among school goers.
- Cannabis: 57% of early school leavers have used cannabis and 24% of school attendees.
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Other drugs: 41% of early school leavers have taken other drugs (such as psychedelics, cocaine, heroin) compared to 11% of school goers.
Source: The National Advisory Committee on Drugs, 28/10/2010
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