Teenagers are concerned about drug and alcohol abuse

A study carried out by the Belfast Telegraph has revealed that 83% of teenagers are very concerned about the problems of binge drinking, drugs and self-harm.

This may surprise many adults, who often feel that many teenagers are abusing drinks and drugs on a regular basis. The truth may be that it is a relatively small proportion of teenagers that actually gets heavily involved in drinks and drugs.

54.9% answered a poll to say that these issues are ‘highly important’ and 28% said that they are ‘important’; only 1.6% of teenagers say that the issues are ‘totally unimportant’.

These findings were described as a “wake-up call” for society. If teenagers are concerned about drugs and drink, it is a clear sign that more needs to be done to protect children and young adults from falling into bad habits.

Earlier this year we reported an incident at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast that saw 60 teenagers become so intoxicated that the event had to be cancelled. Many of the teenagers were only 16 or 17 years old and had become intoxicated while queuing for the event. It is only teenagers that regularly drink before events in this way.

Drink and drug culture is still a very serious problem in towns and cities all over the UK. The combination of peer pressure, easy access to alcohol and drugs and a general acceptance that it is normal to partake in both is helping to fuel a binge drinking and drug taking society. What is worse is that decision makers, experts and parents have not found a way to successfully tackle the problem at this time.