Nursery World - Drink and drugs panic unfounded

Fears that reclassifying cannabis would lead to more young people experimenting with the drug are unfounded, according to new research. The first survey since cannabis was changed from a Class B to a lower Class C drug found that fewer 11- to 15-year-olds in England had used it in the past year. Eleven per cent of pupils took cannabis in 2004, down from 13 per cent in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

The first survey since cannabis was changed from a Class B to a lower Class C drug found that fewer 11- to 15-year-olds in England had used it in the past year. Eleven per cent of pupils took cannabis in 2004, down from 13 per cent in 2001, 2002 and 2003.

Cannabis continued to be the drug children were most likely to have taken, followed by glue, gas and other volatile substances. Four per cent of young people had taken a Class A drug.

The survey, carried out by research organisations NatCen and the National Foundation for Educational Research, also looked at smoking and drinking.

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