Research and data

Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people

South west 

Too much, too young: smoking and young people in the south west is one in a series of papers from the SWPHO.

National studies

Natcen and nfer carry out an annual survey of smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England. Each year the survey collects data from more than 7000 school pupils aged between 11 and 15. The research covers:

• the number of 11 to 15 year-olds smoking, drinking alcohol or taking drugs
• patterns of smoking, drinking and drug use by 11 to 15 year-olds
• attitudes and beliefs
• and the factors that predispose young people to smoke, drink or take drugs.

Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England, 2008

Smoking, drinking and drug use among young people in England, 2009

The NHS National Treatment Agency for Substance Misuse published Substance misuse among young people: the data for 2009-10. It shows that, after rising steadily for the past few years, the number of teenagers receiving help for drug and alcohol problems has levelled out.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation published Teenage drinking cultures, a report investigating the onset and development of drinking behaviours within teenage friendship groups. The researchers recommend interventions focused on teaching young drinkers how to avoid many of the common risks experienced when out drinking, aiming to teach young people the skills by which to control their consumption and promoting individual self-regulation and moderate consumption.

The Joseph Rowntree Foundation also published Young people, alcohol and influences. It presents the findings from a major study of young people and their relationship with alcohol, and explores the wide range of influences on their drinking. It examines circumstances surrounding young people's first time drinking, their current drinking patterns (including levels of consumption), and their experiences of drunkenness. It develops our understanding of what really influences young people's drinking patterns by identifying the domains and indicators that have the strongest relationship with their behaviour.

Drinkaware commissioned research into the drinking repertoires and habits of 15 to 17 year-olds. A key finding was that almost three quarters of underage drinkers do not like being drunk and more than two thirds feel ashamed when they drink too much. Looking at peer pressure, the research found that more than a third (36%) of the 600 young people interviewed cited peer pressure as their main reason for having drunk alcohol during the previous week. However, despite young people feeling they need to drink alcohol to fit in with their friends, the majority (61%) of those interviewed only occasionally or rarely drink. To read more, download Drinking repertoires and habits amongst 15-17s by Sadek Wynberg Millward Brown for Drinkaware.

Drug misuse declared: findings from the 2009-10 British Crime Survey. This annual statistical bulletin produced by the Home Office Statistics Unit analyses the extent and trends in self-reported illegal drug use among a national sample of 16- to 59-year-old adults in England and Wales. The report looks at polydrug use (two or more drugs taken in the past year) and trends in ethnicity and sexual orientation. Relevant key findings:

• among young people aged 16-24, around one in five had used one or more illicit drugs in the past year (20%, an estimated 1.3 million people)
• use of any illicit drug among young people in the past year has fallen since 1996 (29.7%) and since 2008-09 (22.6%), in large part due to a decline in cannabis use. 

Impact of parental alcohol misuse 

A report by Alcohol Concern and The Children's Society highlights the significant impact on children of parental alcohol misuse. An estimated 2.6 million children live with a parent whose drinking puts them at risk of neglect, and 705,000 live with a dependent drinker. The two charities argue for a national inquiry into the scale of harm and impact on society and for improved resources to protect children, download Swept under the carpet.

Links between alcohol, sexual activity, teenage pregnancy and STI rates 

In work for the North West Public Health Observatory, researchers at the Centre for Public Health at Liverpool John Moores University looked at the links between alcohol use, teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection rates. The results of their work demonstrate the relationship between alcohol misuse and poor sexual health outcomes. The research team's first recommendation is that there is an urgent need for the integration of health services for young people and that it should be routine for professionals to address sexual health and alcohol issues simultaneously. Download Contributions of alcohol use to teenage pregnancy and sexually transmitted infection rates.

Childline has summarised findings from the calls it receives about the links between alcohol and teenage sexual activity.