Sharp rise reported in drug abuse among girls
There has been a slight drop in the number of people taking drugs but a big increase in abuse by girls, a government body has found.
Members of the Action Committee Against Narcotics noted a drop of 2.3 per cent in the total number of reported drug abusers last year compared with 2008. They were also told the number of reported young abusers under the age of 21 had fallen by 3.3 per cent.
But there was a rise of 28.6 per cent in new cases of drug abuse by girls aged 16 and under, and an increase of 6.8 per cent for females under 21.
More than half of the teenagers said they took drugs to identify with their peers (55.8 per cent). Some 51.8 per cent said they took drugs to relieve boredom, depression and anxiety. More than a third (39.9 per cent) abused drugs out of curiosity.
A total of 71 per cent of the young people said they took drugs at their home or a friend's home. Other popular places were public toilets, gardens, and discos or karaoke lounges.
Heroin and ketamine were the most common drugs used. There has been an 18.2 per cent increase in the use of cough medicine, and a 36.2 per cent drop in abuse of Ecstasy.
