Experience and knowledge of young people regarding illicit drug use, 1969-99

Aims. To monitor young people's experience and knowledge of illicit drugs b etween 1969 and 1999 at intervals of 5 years. Design. The same confidential anonymously completed questionnaire was used throughout. Setting. Three se condary schools in Wolverhampton, an English Midlands town. Participants. T wo hundred and seventy-four pupils aged 14-15 completed the questionnaire i n 1999. Previous sample sizes were 471 in 1969, 523 in 1974, 648 in 1979, 5 40 in 1984, 380 in 1989 and 392 in 1994. Measurements. Self-reported levels of experience and knowledge of illicit drugs. Findings. Over 30 years the proportion of pupils who knew someone taking drugs more than quadrupled fro m 15% (71/461) in 1969 to 65% (254/392) in 1994 and decreased to 58% (157/2 73) in 1999. The proportion who had been offered drugs increased nine-fold from 5% (24/462) to 45% (175/392) and levelled to 48% (131/274) in 1999. Th e proportion mentioning "ecstasy", LSD and amphetamines increased while amy l nitrite decreased significantly. "To feel big, grown up" was the main per ceived reason for taking drugs. "To escape problems" increased significantl y in 1999. Television remained the main source of information closely follo wed by friends and talk in school. Conclusions. The experience of illicit d rugs, after increasing dramatically to a peak in 1994, has levelled out in 1999. Although the knowledge of the names of drugs has steadily increased, knowledge of the effects has remained limited. Social and group pressures r emain the main perceived reason for taking drugs and many may see drugs as a way of coping with stress. Progress in education about drugs must take ac count of wider issues in society.