Brussels, 22/08/2014 (Agence Europe) - Because they tend to do their research on the internet, young people are increasingly ill-informed about drugs, according to a Eurobarometer survey published on 21 August.
In general, fewer young people than in the most recent survey of the opinions of 15 to 24-year-olds on drugs, which was carried out in 2011, had received information via media campaigns or prevention campaigns at school (-9 and -6 points). For example, one quarter of young people had not received any information about so-called legal highs, freely available substances which imitate the effects of illegal drugs. Yet consumption of these by young people has increased, rising from 5% in 2011 to 8% in 2014.
The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction also estimates that one out of four fifteen-year-olds has previously taken illegal drugs.
According to the Eurobarometer survey, people aged between 14 and 25 are most likely to turn to the internet to seek information about illegal drugs or new psycho-active substances (60%). This is followed by friends and medical staff (around 30% of cases each). Approaching close family or specialist drug centres appears to be an option for just two young people in every ten (25% and 21%).
The vast majority of 15 to 24-year-olds continue to have an extremely negative view of hard drugs such as heroin, cocaine and ecstasy (more than 90%). However, although more than nine out of ten of them believe that regular use of heroin and cocaine is dangerous to the health, fewer than six out of ten believe that occasional use of ecstasy is dangerous. Opinions are also mixed on cannabis, as just over half of young people (53%) take the view that the substance should remain prohibited, whilst the rest (45%) feel that cannabis should be regulated. Half of young people (47%) also believe that legal highs which imitate the effects of drugs should be banned only if they present health risks.
The European Commission sees the results of this Eurobarometer survey as confirmation of the vital need to properly distribute information about drugs. Five EU financial programmes are allocated funds to fight drug use and pay for projects to identify new substances or directly help people with drug issues, for instance. (MD)