Drug and alcohol use by young people: a comparison of findings from rural and urban areas

Alcohol, drugs and anti-social behaviour in rural areas: strategies to turn the tide

11 June 2009, Nottingham

Angela Balding/Dr.David Regis, Schools Health Education Unit, Exeter

www.sheu.org.uk

and a bit about anti-social behaviour

Contents

Introduction Earlier findings Analysis by school description of

catchment Analysis by DR description of authority Conclusions

Introduction

SHEU databanks Contract research work

– mostly young people, mostly in schools, mostly about PSHE

– mostly for LAs, PCTs, DATs

Annual compilations from contract survey work

Large bank of questions

Earliest 1986

Young People in...

SHEU databanksEver tried illegal drugs

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

'87 '88 '89 '90 '91 '92 '93 '94 '95 '96 '97 '98 '99 '00 '01 '02 '03 '04

Earlier findings about urban/rural differences

Earlier findings 1 Drug use 1997 (published 1998)

– compared drug use in three contrasting areas, and found the highest use was in the most rural area.

2002: Alcohol and drugs in and pupil description of location: – For drug experience 'in the last month', little difference with

location for 12-13 year olds, with around 4% reporting drug experience.

– However, more 14-15 year olds living in villages compared to towns reported drug experience 'in the last month'

• 21% in the villages compared with 16% in the towns.

– Data about 'Having alcohol last week' show figures to be generally higher for village dwellers.

Earlier findings 2 2006: location question dropped, but analysed drink and drugs by

authority (London/other City councils/other councils)

MALES FEMALES

DRINK DRUGS DRINK DRUGS

1 Other Other Other London

2 Other City City Other

3 City Other City City

4 Other City Other City

5 City City – It is non-metropolitan counties with a high proportion of rural

communities who top three of the lists.– No evidence to suggest that living in an urban environment

exposes young people to unique risks with respect to drinking or drug use.

Analysis by school description of catchment area 2008

The 2008 sample

Year 8 Year 10 All

12-13y 14-15y

Males 14,355 14,100 28,455

Females 14,910 14,454 29,364

All 29,265 28,554 57,819

Health warning: statistical significance

Where did the 2008 sample come from? Bristol, Cambridgeshire, Camden,

Cumbria, Dudley, Durham, Essex, Gateshead, Greenwich, Haringey, Hertfordshire, Knowsley, Lambeth, Lancashire, N Yorkshire, Peterborough, Southampton, Sunderland, Swindon, Wiltshire

School description of catchment

Proportion of pupils:Rural/suburban/urban/inner urban

If 50% or more rural = rural school Pupils attending Rural schools N=11,224 Pupils attending Urban schools N=18,957 Rural schools less ethnically diverse,

higher mean income

Smoking last week

0

20

40

60

80

100

Smoking

%

Yr.8 M Yr.8 F Yr.10 M Yr.10 F

Smoking last week in urban and rural schools: n.s. : p<0.01

0

20

40

60

80

100

Males Females

%

Rural Urban

Alcohol use

0

20

40

60

80

100

Any alcohol last week

%

Yr.8 M Yr.8 F Yr.10 M Yr.10 F

Alcohol use among Y10 pupilsin urban and rural schools

0

20

40

60

80

100

Males Females

%

Rural Urban

More than 10 units a week

0

20

40

60

80

100

Rural

%

Yr.8 M Yr.8 F Yr.10 M Yr.10 F

More than 10 units a week (Y10)in urban and rural schools

0

20

40

60

80

100

Males Females

%

Rural Urban

Drug use

0

20

40

60

80

100

Ever tried one or more of a list of drugs

%

Yr.8 M Yr.8 F Yr.10 M Yr.10 F

Drug use among Year 10 pupilsin rural and urban schools n.s.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Males Females

%

Rural Urban

Types of drugs usedin rural and urban schools

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

Am

ph

etamin

es

Barb

iturates

Can

nab

is oil

Can

nab

is leaf/resin

'Date-rap

e' dru

gs

Ecstasy

Co

caine

Crack

Hallu

cino

gen

s:n

atural

Hallu

cino

gen

s:syn

thetic

Hero

in

Op

iates

Po

pp

ers

So

lvents u

sed as

dru

gs

Mu

scle-bu

ildin

gstero

ids

Tran

qu

illisers

Oth

er illegal d

rug

s

No

ne o

f the ab

ove

(or m

issing

data)

%

Sources of advice about drugsin rural and urban schools Y10

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

0 My fam

ily

1 Frien

ds

2 So

meo

ne at

scho

ol

3 Co

nn

exion

sP

erson

al Ad

viser

4 Do

ctor, n

urse,

oth

er health

wo

rker

5 Lo

cal Ad

viceC

entre

6 Bo

oks,

Mag

azines

7 Intern

et e.g. w

ebp

ages

8 Telep

ho

ne

help

line

A Y

ou

th w

orker

B K

eep it to

myself

%

Sexual health services Y10in rural and urban schools

0

20

40

60

80

100

Know about a local service for young people

%

Rural Urban

Bullied at school last year Y10in rural and urban schools : n.s. : p<0.001

0

20

40

60

80

100

Males Females

%

Rural Urban

Carrying weapons Y10

0

20

40

60

80

100

Males Females

%

Rural Urban

Analysis by local authority

Urban and rural authorities

Bristol, Cambridgeshire, Camden, Cumbria, Dudley, County of Durham, Essex, Gateshead, Greenwich, Haringey, Hertfordshire, Knowsley, Lambeth, Lancashire, N Yorkshire, Peterborough, Southampton, Stockport, Sunderland, Swindon, Wiltshire, Wirral

Repeat of 2006 analysisAnalysis of drink and drugs by authority

(London/other City councils/other councils)

Males Females

smoker drinker >10 u druguse smoker drinker >10 u druguse

Rural Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban

Rural Rural Rural Rural Urban Urban Urban Urban

Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Rural Urban Urban

Urban Rural Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban Urban

Urban Rural Rural Urban Urban Rural Urban Urban

Among males, whether rural or urban is not a great predictor of coming in the top 5 authorities for substance use

Analysis within one authority: secondary schools Pupils from urban schools were

MORE likely to Think that their school takes

bullying seriously Think that their views make a

difference Positive about a variety of aspects

of school life * Be working on a paper round * Be driven to school Get water easily at school Know where to get free condoms Year 10: if sexually experienced,

have always used contraception

Pupils from rural schools were MORE likely to

Report being bullied in the last year *

Enjoy school lessons Take part in voting for school

elections * Be earning Be working in a hotel, bar or café * Walk to school Drink alcohol in the last week * Year 10: have had sex

* a similar finding was found in 2006

Conclusions

So...? Little evidence that YP in rural areas face

any less of a challenge from substance use and ASB than those in rural areas

Higher use of smoking and alcohol in rural communities, maybe bullying

Characteristics of specific communities more important than whether rural/urban in determining use (males)

Young people in rural areas less able to find support or information

References www.sheu.org.uk

– www.sheu.org.uk/publications/drinkanddrugs.htm– www.sheu.org.uk/publications/drinkanddrugs07.htm

Published:– Young people and illegal drugs into 1998– Trends: Illegal Drugs

(forthcoming):– Young People into 2008– Young People into 2009

Still, there’s always the scenery...