SALSUS

Scottish Schools Adolescent Lifestyle and Substance Use Survey (SALSUS) 2006 National Report 

INTRODUCTION

KEY POINTS

• There was a reduction in the prevalence of smoking, drinking and drug use between 2004 and 2006.  However, some aspects of substance use, for example, the locations of drinking and drug use remained relatively constant.
• A small minority of pupils smoke regularly and use drugs regularly (as measured by drug use in the last month.  More pupils have ever had an alcoholic drink but only a minority of pupils drink regularly (as measured by drinking in the last week).  Among those who smoke, and/or drink and/or use drugs some pupils do so to excess and the survey report provides more information about this behaviour.
• The key findings above cover measures of prevalence and provide a little insight into sources of cigarettes, alcohol and drugs.  Whilst the sources mentioned cover the purchase of substances, another main source for cigarettes, alcohol and drugs are friends, family and acquaintances.

INTERPRETATION

The fieldwork for the survey in 2006 was conducted in the Autumn Term, whilst the surveys in 2002 and 2004 were conducted in the Spring Term.  This timing in the school year returns to the timing of the surveys between 1982 and 2000.  This should be noted in using the findings because the pupils are slightly younger than the pupils sampled in 2002 and 2004.  However,  the significant decline in prevalence among most groups is only partly attributable to this age difference.

DETAILED SUMMARY

Smoking

• 4% of 13 year olds and 15% of 15 year olds were regular smokers (defined as usually smoking at least one cigarette a week).
• Prevalence of smoking among 13 year olds has declined since 1998, from 9% to 3% among boys and 11% to 5% among girls.  Among 15 year olds, smoking prevalence has declined since its peak in 1996; from 30% for both boys and girls to 12% and 18% respectively.
• Among regular smokers nearly half (47%) of 13 year olds and over three quarters (82%) of 15 year olds reported buying cigarettes from a shop.
• Fewer 13 year olds had bought cigarettes from shops in 2006 than in 2004 (62%) but there was little change among 15 year olds  (86%).

Drinking

• Just over half of 13 year olds (57%) had ever had an alcoholic drink compared to  84% of 15 year olds.
• Fourteen percent (14%)of 13 year olds and 36% of 15 year olds had had an alcoholic drink in the last week.
• In 2004 20% of 13 year olds and 43% of 15 year olds had had an alcoholic drink in the last week.
• Just over half of 13 year olds who had ever had a drink (57%) reported having been drunk at least once (52% of boys and 55% of girls).  The proportion of 15 year old pupils who had drunk alcohol (84%) and who had ever been drunk was higher in comparison: 71% of boys and 75% of girls.  The proportion of pupils who have ever been drunk and the number of times they have been drunk has remained relatively constant between 2004 and 2006.
• Fifty two percent (52%) of 13 year olds reported only drinking a few times a year compared with 29% of 15 year olds.
• Eleven percent (11%) of 13 year olds and 23% of 15 year olds reported that they had bought alcohol in a shop.  This is similar to the figures for 2004.

Drug use

• Four percent (4%) of all 13 year olds reported that they had used drugs in the last month compared to 14% of 15 year olds.
• Around a quarter of all 15 year olds (23%) and 7% of all 13 year olds reported that they had used drugs in the last year.
• Prevalence among 13 year old boys decreased from 7% to 4% and among 13 year old girls from 6% to 3%.
• Between 2004 and 2006 prevalence of drug use among 15 year old boys declined from 21% to 14% and among 15 year old girls there was a decline from 20% to 12%.
• Among 13 year olds, boys were more likely to report being offered drugs than girls: 25% of boys said they had been offered drugs compared with 21% of girls. A similar difference existed for 15 year olds: 55% of boys being offered drugs compared with 51% of girls.
• Most pupils reported that friends were their source of drugs. For 15 year olds the source was more likely to be a friend of their own age than an older friend: 41% reported obtaining drugs from a friend of their own age and 33% from an older friend.

MAIN CONTACTS:

PRE-RELEASE ACCESS TO THIS PUBLICATION WAS GIVEN TO:

HISTORY OF THIS PUBLICATION:

Last Published:  2004
Next Due:  2008
Data available since:
    1982 smoking behaviour
    1990 drinking behaviour
    1998 drug use
    2002 lifestyle, social factors and substance use

Main contact: Stephen Pavis

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