Shetland secondary pupils’ substance use above national average
Concerns have been raised after figures show the number of secondary 2-4 pupils using illegal drugs, alcohol, tobacco, e-cigarettes and vapes are above the national average.
A report from the council’s education and families committee showed 15.5 per cent of pupils in this age group have taken illegal drugs, while the national average is 9.6 per cent.
Pupils who drank alcohol once per week or more was 14.4 per cent in Shetland compared to the national figure of 7.4 per cent.
Regular tobacco use was 4.9 per cent in Shetland and nationally stands at 2.7 per cent and the use of e-cigarettes or regular vaping is 12.5 per cent compared with 10.2 per cent nationally.
Speaking at the committee’s meeting this morning (Monday), Lerwick South councillor Neil Pearson said: “This is a huge concern, it is clear we as a community need to be doing a lot more to tackle these issues.”
Read the full story in this week’s Shetland Times.
Mr ian Tinkler
The war on drugs has utterly failed. That is a simple matter of fact. All it has achieved is the enrichment of the organised professional criminals. Our youngsters are exposed and exploited by ruthless parasites who use the young vulnerable to push their fowl produce.
The result is death, addiction, prostitution and countless pestilence. VD, HIV aids, SIKA, Hepatitis,and all types of sepsis. We need to push the criminals outside their trade. Provide clean, sanitary places and drugs for our addicts. It may not cure their addiction but it will enhance thousands of blighted lives. No longer exploitative criminals pushing youngsters stop criminality. No more teenage prostitution and theft to finance this habit. Release our police forces to go at the true villains. Who knows, they may actually arrest a few more politicians and hit the real shits wrecking lives.