Drug and Substance Use Among 3,333 London Adolescents

Summary A confidential and anonymous self‐report survey among 3,333 adolescents was carried out in six state comprehensive schools in London. It enquired, among many other variables, about the frequency of current use of cigarettes, alcohol, solvents and other illegal drugs. The results showed that one in five 11–16 year olds have tried solvents or drugs, one in twelve are repeated users and one in twenty have tried ‘hard drugs’. Two‐thirds have ever used alcohol, one in nine can be described as frequent and possibly heavy drinkers, and one in five smoke cigarettes regularly. Smoking is more prevalent and more frequent among girls, while repeated use of drugs (including solvents) as well as alcohol shows no sex differences. The frequency of use of individual substances shows no significant sex differences except for solvents and cocaine where girls predominate.