BBC News | NORTHERN IRELAND | Report highlights pupils' attitudes

More than a quarter of Northern Ireland school pupils have been offered drugs, according to a new report.

The survey, published on Wednesday, also revealed 43% of pupils, who have drunk alcohol, have been drunk on more than one occasion.

The report has been published by the Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister.

It outlines the attitudes of young people towards school, sports, smoking, alcohol, drugs, policing and sexual experience.

Conducted by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, the survey involved a self-completion questionnaire given to more than 6,000 post-primary school children in 62 schools.

Among the key findings were:

A fifth of pupils have been offered solvents on at least one occasion and most of those who have tried solvents were aged 12 the first time they tried them

Most of the 28% of pupils offered drugs were offered cannabis, with the majority of the 17% who took drugs aged 14 at the time

More than 30% of those who smoke currently smoke at least once a week

99% of pupils believe smoking can cause lung cancer, with 95% believing it can harm the health of non-smokers

More than half of pupils have taken alcohol, with most drinking for the first time at 12 years of age

Statistics
32% know the risks of taking drugs
73% have had drugs education at school
65% have spoken to or been spoken to by the police
37% have been pleased about police behaviour
38% have been annoyed about police behaviour

Less than half of pupils felt the police treated young people fairly, while 46% said they were satisfied with the way the police did their job.

However, less than one in 10 of the young people said they would join the police service.

The survey found 15% of pupils had been arrested or cautioned by the police for vandalism, underage drinking and disorderly behaviour.

Researchers found 11% of those interviewed had had sexual intercourse, with the majority aged 14 the first time.

Almost three quarters of those who had sexual intercourse used some form of contraception, the most common being a condom.

Almost 95% felt school was a place where their learning was important and useful to them, with 72% finding school boring at times.

The questionnaire also showed that just under a fifth of girls were on a diet to lose weight.


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