Smoking among school children reaches 25-year low
Fewer teenagers are smoking, survey reveals
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Friday, 18, Jul 2008 12:06
The number of school children who smoke is at its lowest level for 25 years, according to a survey of secondary school pupils.
Six per cent of pupils aged 11 to 15 smoked regularly in 2007, the NHS Information Centre said, compared to ten per cent in 2001.
Drug and alcohol use is also falling.
One in five pupils is likely to have drunk alcohol in the last seven days, compared to one in four in 2001.
And ten per cent are likely to have taken drugs in the last month compared to 12 per cent seven years ago.
Although the proportion taking drugs has fallen overall, the proportion taking Class A drugs within the last year has remained stable since 2001, at around four per cent.
A total of 29 per cent reported either drinking, smoking or taking drugs recently, while four per cent reported doing all three.
Tim Straughan, NHS Information Centre chief executive, commented: "These figures show schoolchildren are turning their back on tobacco.
"The survey also shows drugs and alcohol appear to have a decreasing hold on 11 to 15-year-olds, which can only be a good thing for future generations."