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Majority of primary school students aware of illegal drugs

21/06/2008

A study conducted by a children's charity has shown that the majority of primary school children are aware of at least four illegal drugs.

The research conducted by Life Education consisted of surveys of 1,500 children between the ages of nine and 11 in schools in England and Northern Ireland.

Students were asked about the names of illicit drugs they were aware of as well as the reasons for taking the illegal substances.

The poll revealed that cocaine was the most well-known drug with over 71 per cent of children knowing of it. The next most well-known drug was cannabis with 64 per cent of primary school students having heard of it.

Other findings of the poll showed that 20 per cent of respondents felt that Class A drug cocaine was legal while 38 per cent cited the pressure to look cool as the main reason for using drugs.

A spokesman for the charity, Stephen Burgess, said: "It is no use pretending that children under 11 don't know about drugs.

"These results show that they do and in order for them to approach the potentially challenging period of adolescence knowing the full facts rather than responding to hearsay and peer pressure, we need to reach children early - at primary school," he added.