The unhealthy lifestyle that leads to Scotland's unenviable reputation for high levels of heart attacks, obesity and cancer is usually set in pattern in childhood. That makes the information gained from the survey of the health-related behaviour of schoolchildren an invaluable tool for policy planners and health practitioners. The results from a 2006 survey of Scottish children aged 11, 13 and 15 include some very worrying statistics among an overall trend of improvement.
The unhealthy lifestyle that leads to Scotland's unenviable reputation for high levels of heart attacks, obesity and cancer is usually set in pattern in childhood. That makes the information gained from the survey of the health-related behaviour of schoolchildren an invaluable tool for policy planners and health practitioners. The results from a 2006 survey of Scottish children aged 11, 13 and 15 include some very worrying statistics among an overall trend of improvement.
The most serious finding is that the use of cannabis among teenagers remains high, particularly for the number of 15-year-olds who are classed as regular users. This is despite a decrease in the headline figure of those who have ever used the drug. Although 28% of 15-year-olds say they have tried cannabis at least once, the figure was 37% in 2002. However, the 10% who fall into the regular-use category has remained static and this tends to be associated with truancy, deprivation and lack of parental supervision. That suggests there is a minority whose use is becoming habitual and who may therefore be at risk of moving on to other drugs and to other problems.
In the previous 2002 study, Scottish teenagers had one of the highest rates of cannabis use, along with the other countries in the UK, North America and Switzerland. The international comparisons are not yet available for 2006, but cultural influences will remain an important factor. One of those is when smoking cannabis is regarded as normal. According to the authors of the study, that becomes the case for young people when large numbers of their peers are doing it. That can only be counteracted by a clear policy on drugs use along with information about the dangers. At a time when the legal classification of cannabis is under review, what is clear from this survey is that the downgrading of cannabis from class B to class C in 2004 has not resulted in more Scottish teenagers trying it: quite the reverse. Alcohol figures also show it is possible to halt the upward trend: although consumption remains worryingly high, with around 10% more 15- year-olds drinking weekly than in 1990, the figure for teenage girls has declined over the past four years. That is one of the encouraging signs, along with eating more fruit and vegetables (although still not at the recommended levels) fewer crisps and sweets and taking more exercise. The proportion of 15-year-olds who have had sexual intercourse (around one-third) has not changed since 1990, but they are much more likely to use condoms. All this is good news, not least because it suggests that the health education messages are beginning to have an effect.
It is noteworthy that levels of happiness and confidence have increased in the past four years. Healthy, happy, confident, ambitious young people are what Scotland needs: on this evidence we are on the right path at last, but there is a long way to go.
