The figures are part of an analysis of a survey that was carried out by the young people's charity, Catch22. The charity says there is a growing body of evidence that a good father-child relationship is key to the way young people behave whilst growing up.
It found that 39 per cent of 15-year-olds in Wales who said they did not feel very close to their fathers had tried cannabis.
This figure dropped to around 24 per cent in the group who felt close to their fathers. The statistics showed a similar trend with respect to underage drinking and smoking.
Pat Dunmore, director of Communities that Care in Wales, for Catch22, said, 'The research indicates that for children growing up in Wales, having a positive relationship with your father is just as important as having a positive relationship with your mother. We need to level the playing field and include fathers for the sake of all our children.'
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